Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy tearfully opens up about grief in first TV interview

Yahoo

05-03-2025

Watch: Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy breaks down in tears as she opens up on grief
Kate Cassidy has broken down in tears during her first TV interview since Liam Payne's death, admitting she still can't bring herself to talk about him in the past tense.
The girlfriend of the late One Direction star Liam Payne spoke to ITV's Lorraine to launch the show's March4March mental health and exercise campaign on Wednesday morning and shared that taking their dog for walks was what made her get out of bed each day.
Cassidy had been in a relationship with Payne since 2022 and had travelled to Argentina with him, but had left him in Buenos Aires just days before his death to travel back to their shared home in the US as she needed to look after their dog.
Payne died on 16 October aged 31 after a fall from his hotel room balcony. Cassidy was amongst the mourners at his funeral in Buckinghamshire in November, along with his family, Cheryl Tweedy who Payne shared son Bear with, his former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, and One Direction manager Simon Cowell.
In her first TV interview since Payne's death, influencer Cassidy became tearful as she told Lorraine Kelly: "I find myself talking about him so much in the present tense. I don't feel the need to correct myself because that's part of my healing journey, I'm still working on accepting the fact that he's not here any more.
"When I do refer to him in the past tense it stings that little bit more because it's more official. I never thought I would be talking about him in the past tense so it's definitely really hard to accept."
Cassidy, who has previously spoken about how she and Payne had planned to marry, added of how she was doing: "I am trying to do my best, I have my better days, I have my harder days."
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Cassidy, who was launching Lorraine's new mental health campaign March4March, told how exercise had been helping her, especially walking the dog that she shared with Payne.
"I've always enjoyed walking," she said of taking dog Nala out each day. "Now I'm going through this healing journey, sometimes it's hard for me to get out of bed in the morning and it's something that I don't want to do, but I have this responsibility and this obligation (to the dog), I have no choice, I have to get out of bed. It wakes me up and refreshes my mind instead of laying in bed all day scrolling through social media or old photos. It gets me out of bed and helps my mindset and my mental health."
She also said that Payne had taught her how to deal with trolling during their relationship, which she has drawn on since his death after receiving some cruel comments online: "He's guided me so much, he taught me to have thick skin and to never let anyone's opinion get to me...He taught me how to stay strong."
Cassidy added of grieving: "It is really hard. I've never lost anybody close to me before so this is my first time going through grief and a healing journey." She added of his fans: "I know I'm not alone in this... so many others are grieving all over the world."
"I'll always have so much love for him, he was really one of a kind, he would light up any room he walked into," she continued. "He had this sense of humour where he could really make anything better. His presence was comforting and warming and that's something I'll never forget about him, ever."
In the wake of Payne's death, some other former X Factor stars spoke out about the huge pressure sudden fame had put them under, as did boy band stars including Blue and singer Lulu.
Lorraine's March4March campaign aims to support viewers through mental health struggles by encouraging them to get exercise to lift their mood. Other celebrities set to open up while walking and talking for the campaign include Pete Wicks, Tyler West, Vicky Pattison, Vogue Williams and Ellie Simmonds.
Cassidy said she had been drawn to support the campaign as it was called March4March: "The number four is me and Liam's angel number which symbolises support from angels. I genuinely believe Liam guided me to this campaign and it's something he wanted me to do. Every time I see the number four I know he's there with me."
She added: "Anybody should not be afraid to speak out. Liam was so open about his mental health and I know he would want me to help anybody because he is no longer able to help people."
Kelly said: "I'm so pleased we are launching a campaign dedicated to destigmatising the conversation around mental health and I'm so grateful to the amazing names who've already agreed to bravely share their stories and pledge their support for such a worthy cause. I'm looking forward to getting out walking and talking and I look forward to taking our amazing viewers along with me."
In February, Cassidy gave an interview to The Sun where she opened up on the circumstances surrounding her leaving Argentina to travel back home to the US, and shared the last text she had sent Payne.
She explained that she had left Payne in Buenos Aires as she had to get home to look after their dog and said: "Obviously if I knew, if I could see into the future, I would never have left Argentina."
Cassidy, who said she had thought she and Payne were "soulmates" as soon as she met him, added: "It was a tragic accident and no, I never did think [he might die young]. But, you know, we did have our own separate lives – this wasn't the first time we have travelled separately. I just never thought this would have happened, that it would turn out the way it did."
"We were in such a great place, just full of love; he was so happy and positive. And I just can't even believe the way things truly ended," she said.
Talking about the last message that she had sent Payne, she shared that she had written: "I can't wait for you to get home and see the house," which she had decorated for Halloween. Cassidy also admitted that she would still call Payne's phone to hear his voicemail message.
Following Payne's death, Cassidy had posted on social media: "Thank you for all of the kind words and love that has been sent my way. I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you'll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.
"Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam."
October 2022: The pair were first spotted together at a Halloween party in London. By December, they had made their red carpet debut together at the British Fashion Awards.
January 2023: Cassidy and Payne went Instagram official as the influencer posted a series of loved-up photos of them together. In March, Cassidy accompanied Payne to the launch of bandmate Louis Tomlinson's documentary All of Those Voices.
May 2023: It was reported that the couple had split up, but any alleged difficulties were shortlived as just a month later they were seen holding hands on a night out in London.
March 2024: Cassidy and Payne were photographed enjoying a romantic trip to Paris together.
August 2024: The social media star was forced to defend Payne after he was accused by some of her fans of being misogynistic. He had made a joke that she was "covered up for once" in a TikTok video, but Cassidy explained that she had told him to make the joke.
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September 2024: Cassidy shared photos of them looking happy at a wedding as they smiled with their arms around each other. She also shared a TikTok video of them dancing.
October 2024: The couple travelled to Buenos Aires together, where they took in Payne's bandmate Niall Horan's concert. Cassidy left to return to the US before Payne as she had to look after their dog, but days later the shock news of Payne's death was announced.
October 2024: Sharing a heartfelt tribute to Payne a week after his death, Cassidy revealed that they had been planning to marry. She wrote: "A few weeks ago, we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together. I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said, 'Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever 444.' I know we'll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You'll always be with me. I've gained a guardian angel. I will love you for the rest of my life and beyond, carrying our dreams and memories everywhere I go."
Lorraine airs on ITV1 at 9am on weekdays.