'It still doesn’t feel real' Kate Cassidy speaks on Liam Payne’s death

Liam Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, has spoken about the heartbreaking moment she learned of the singer’s tragic passing. The One Direction star died at the age of 31 on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne had been staying in the country while Cassidy had flown back to the U.S. before the incident. Speaking to The Sun, Cassidy reflected on her devastation: “It still doesn’t feel fully real for me that he’s not here. I think about Liam every second of every day.”

Kate Cassidy Recalls the Moment She Learned of Liam’s Passing

Cassidy shared that she was at their home with their dog when she received a phone call from one of Liam’s friends. “That moment, it’s like blank; it’s blacked out in my head. I didn’t believe it at first. I thought it was just a rumour. Then instantly, I just had a bad feeling in my gut.” The emotional toll left her reeling as she struggled to accept the loss. She expressed her disbelief over how life can change in an instant, adding: “Liam was in such a good headspace when I left Argentina. 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.”

Five People Charged in Connection With Payne’s Death

Authorities in Argentina have charged five individuals in connection with Payne’s death—three with manslaughter and two with supplying cocaine. The singer’s cause of death was determined as “polytrauma,” indicating multiple severe injuries. His passing prompted vigils worldwide, and he was recently honored during the In Memoriam segment at the Grammy Awards.

Funeral Attended by One Direction Stars and Family

Payne’s funeral took place in November in Buckinghamshire, attended by his ex-partner Cheryl—mother of their son, Bear—as well as his One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. Following One Direction’s hiatus, Payne found solo success, releasing his debut album LP1 in 2019, which featured hit singles like Polaroid, Strip That Down (feat. Quavo), and For You with Rita Ora.