Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy calls late singer 'love of my life,' says he envisioned spending 'forever' with her
Liam Payne's girlfriend, influencer Kate Cassidy, has spoken out for the second time since the 31-year-old musician died.
Liam Payne and Katie Cassidy pose on the red carpet upon arrival at The 2022 Fashion Awards in London on December 5, 2022.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
Cassidy posted a heartfelt message to her late partner on Instagram on Wednesday, October 23, exactly one week after the One Direction star died by falling from the third-story balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She shared a carousel of romantic photos from their two-year relationship. "My heart is shattered in ways I can't put into words," she said. "I wish you could see the huge impact you've had on the world, even as it feels so dark right now."
"You are — because I can't say were — my best friend, the love of my life, and everyone you touched felt just as special as I did," Cassidy wrote. "None of this feels real, and I can't get my brain around the new reality of not having you around. I'm having difficulty adjusting to life without you. We got to be kids again, always finding joy in the little things."
The internet sensation, who frequently included Payne in her TikTok videos, also revealed a note her boyfriend sent a few weeks before his death, admitting his desire to marry Cassidy within the next year. "It feels like I've lost the best part of myself," she explained in her tribute. "Liam, I know we'll be together forever, but not in the way we expected. You will always be with me. I've got a guardian angel. I shall adore you for the rest of my life and beyond, bringing our aspirations and memories wherever I go."
According to a preliminary autopsy report, Payne appeared to be alone when he died and sustained several injuries and hemorrhages from the collision. The initial toxicological test also revealed that he was on narcotics at the time of the fall.
Cassidy had previously met Payne in Argentina, where they both attended Niall Horan's show. A few days before her death, the "Strip That Down" singer announced on TikTok that she was leaving the nation unaccompanied.
In the days since Payne's death, several fans and those close to the X Factor graduate have expressed their sadness online, including his former bandmates Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson. Cassidy first addressed the tragedy on October 18, asking people to give her "the grace and space to navigate this in private."
"Liam, my angel. You are everything," she had said at the moment. "I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely."