Kate Cassidy has spoken out for the first time since the heartbreaking loss of her partner, Liam Payne.
The One Direction star tragically passed away in October 2024 at the age of 31. While an investigation into the circumstances is still ongoing, five people have been charged. Until now, Kate has only shared her grief through social media and by attending Liam’s funeral. In a candid new interview with The Sun, she reflected on their relationship, addressed speculation surrounding her departure from Argentina, and dispelled rumors about the tragedy.
Kate was quick to shut down speculation that she and Liam had broken up in Argentina before she left for the UK. In reality, her departure was simply down to practical reasons—caring for their dog, Nala.
“I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We had our dog and obviously I never, ever thought this event would occur,” she explained. She added, “Obviously if I knew, if I could see into the future, I would never have left Argentina.”
Another rumor she addressed was speculation that Liam had died by suicide, clarifying that “it was a tragic accident.”
Even now, Kate says she struggles to process Liam’s passing. “It still doesn’t feel fully real for me that he’s not here,” she shared. “I’m trying to be the best I can be, but I feel like my life has changed so much. I think about Liam every second of every day.”
Her grief has taken many forms. At first, she found comfort in listening to his music as she fell asleep, but it became too painful. Instead, she sometimes calls his phone just to hear his voicemail.
Kate learned the devastating news from one of Liam’s friends, something she is grateful for, as she didn’t have to find out online like so many others.
“That moment, it’s like blank; it’s blacked out in my head,” she recalled. “I didn’t believe it at first. I thought it was just a rumour. Or something that somebody made up just to get views. Then instantly I just had a bad feeling in my gut. I was like, ‘Why would somebody make this up? Is this true?’”
She continued, “And I feel like I just completely blacked out. When I officially found the news out to be true, I felt numb. I tried to call him. I called pretty much everybody. Then I was in touch with his family, and my mum got the first flight out to be with me. I remember pacing around the house—poor Nala thought I was trying to play, she kept jumping up at me. I didn’t sleep at all that night.”
Kate didn’t comment on the investigation, as it is still ongoing, but she did speak about Liam’s well-documented struggles with addiction.
“I don’t think I want to answer that because I literally wouldn’t even know. With addiction, you just never know when it’s going to come out,” she said when asked about his apparent relapse in Argentina. “It’s a serious issue that is under-valued and under-spoken about.”
Through it all, Kate says she supported Liam as best as she could. “I supported Liam through thick and thin, and I always just loved his soul. I always wanted to be there for him. I genuinely always really did try to do anything I could do to help. You know, I’m 25, I’m not an expert with any of this, so it was hard. But I loved him and I loved him no matter what. I just did what I could do, and what I could manage to do.”
She added, “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.”
Kate describes their love as something truly special. “From the moment I met Liam, I genuinely believed we were soulmates; he was the most humble, charming, normal person you could ever hope to come across, and genuinely one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life,” she said.
In December, she honored Liam with a tattoo, a permanent tribute to their love and the deep connection they shared.
