Liam Payne‘s girlfriend expressed that she would have remained in Argentina had she been aware of the impending tragedy surrounding the singer’s death.
In an exclusive interview with the Sun, US influencer Kate Cassidy, who had been in a relationship with the One Direction star since 2022, described Payne’s death as a “tragic accident.”
“I never considered the possibility of him dying young… I never imagined this would occur,” she stated during her first interview following his death.
In October of the previous year, Payne tragically lost his life after a fall from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At 31, he found himself at a pivotal moment in his life.
A week following his passing, Cassidy shared a heartfelt tribute to the singer on social media, referring to him as “my best friend, the love of my life.”
A photo of a note penned by Payne shortly before his death was also shared, indicating that the couple intended to marry within a year.
A 25-year-old told the Sun, “Love is so optimistic, and you just hope that everything will work out at the end.” Had I been able to foresee the future, I would have chosen to remain in Argentina.”
She remarked that she never anticipated her decision to travel separately from him “would unfold as it did”.
Payne travelled to Argentina for a holiday and attended a concert featuring his former bandmate Niall Horan.
Cassidy reported that she departed from Argentina and returned to their residence in Florida by herself to attend to their dog, Nala.
“There was a duty to uphold, a collective obligation we shared.” “We had our dog, and I never imagined this event would occur,” she stated.
She remarked, “Liam was in such a good headspace when I left.”
Payne’s unexpected passing has ignited a discussion regarding the music industry’s responsibility towards the well-being of emerging artists.
Toxicology tests performed soon after his death indicated the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in Payne’s system, according to the prosecutor’s office in Argentina.
At a recent inquest held in Buckinghamshire, UK, the cause of death was officially confirmed as “polytrauma,” a term that refers to multiple traumatic injuries.
Reports indicate that Cassidy departed from their Florida residence and returned to New Jersey.
Cassidy expressed her conviction that they were “soulmates” from their initial encounter, adding that it “still doesn’t feel genuine” to her that he is no longer present.
Efforts to achieve personal excellence are often met with the reality of significant life changes, leading to a sense of disorientation. “I think about Liam every second of every day,” she said, adding, “The reality is that he won’t be there with me to navigate this life, and I’ll have to face this without him by my side… it’s hard.”
According to reports, the couple first crossed paths in 2022, during Cassidy’s tenure as a waitress in South Carolina.
Upon receiving the call regarding Payne’s death from a friend, she remarked, “I feel like I just completely blacked out.” Upon receiving confirmation of the news, a sense of numbness washed over me. I attempted to reach him by phone. I reached out to nearly everyone.
In an interview with the Sun, she revealed that she continues to call Payne’s phone to listen to his voicemail recording. She also shared that although she once found comfort in falling asleep to his music, she is now unable to play it.
“Perhaps one day,” she remarked.
“We found ourselves in a wonderful moment, overflowing with love; his happiness and positivity were palpable. It serves as a reminder that the future remains uncertain, and one can never predict what tomorrow may hold.”
