- Kate Cassidy says she would never have left Argentina if she had known what would happen.
- Payne’s sudden death confirmed as “polytrauma,” with traces of alcohol and drugs found.
- Cassidy reveals she still calls his phone to hear his voicemail recording.
Kate Cassidy, the girlfriend of late One Direction star Liam Payne, has opened up about his sudden passing, describing it as a “tragic accident” and expressing deep regret over leaving Argentina before his death.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Cassidy revealed she never imagined Payne could die so young. “I just never thought this would have happened,” she said in her first public statement since his passing.
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Payne, 31, died in October last year after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, where he had been on holiday to see his former bandmate Niall Horan perform. A week later, Cassidy posted an emotional tribute online, calling him “my best friend, the love of my life.”
Reflecting on their final days together, Cassidy shared that Payne had written a note before his death, suggesting they would get married within a year. “Love is so optimistic, and you just hope that everything will work out,” she said.
The 25-year-old recalled how she left Argentina to return to their home in Florida, believing Payne was in a “good headspace” at the time. “Obviously, if I could see into the future, I would never have left,” she admitted, adding that she had only gone back to take care of their dog, Nala.
“I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. I never, ever thought this event would occur,” she explained.
Payne’s sudden passing has reignited discussions about the music industry’s duty of care for young artists. Toxicology tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system, and a UK inquest confirmed his cause of death as “polytrauma”—a term for multiple traumatic injuries.
Since his passing, Cassidy has left their shared Florida home and moved back to New Jersey. She described Payne as her “soulmate” and admitted she still struggles to accept his absence.
“It still doesn’t feel fully real. I think about Liam every second of every day,” she said. “That he won’t be there with me to navigate through this life, that I’ll have to deal with this without him by my side… it’s really hard.”
Cassidy, who met Payne in 2022 while working as a waitress in South Carolina, recounted the heartbreaking moment she learned of his death. “I feel like I just completely blacked out. When I officially found out, I felt numb. I tried to call him. I called pretty much everybody.”
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Even now, she confessed that she still dials Payne’s phone just to hear his voicemail. While she once found comfort in his music, she can no longer bring herself to listen. “Maybe one day,” she said.
In her final words, Cassidy reflected on their love and the unpredictability of life. “We were in such a great place, just full of love; he was so happy and positive… You never truly know what tomorrow will bring.”
