Kate Cassidy, the girlfriend of late One Direction star Liam Payne, has marked the first anniversary of his death with an emotional tribute on social media. Payne died aged 31 after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October 2024.
Sharing a black-and-white photograph of the couple on Instagram, Cassidy wrote: "Today marks a full year without you here. I will forever hate goodbyes. I miss you Liam." The image shows Cassidy smiling with her eyes closed as she lies on top of Payne, who has his arm around her and is kissing her cheek. She also posted a second black-and-white picture to her Instagram Stories, showing Payne beaming at the camera while Cassidy, wrapped in a coat, hat and scarf, hugs him from the side.
The post was flooded with messages of support. One follower wrote: "We miss him too. Thinking of you today," while another added: "Sending so much love today, he's always looking down on you."
Cassidy has been open about her grief and recently defended herself after facing criticism for sharing AI-generated images of herself and Payne. In a TikTok video, she said: "None of you have ever been in my position and hopefully you never will be, so please, kindly stop telling me how to grieve." She described the AI pictures as a source of comfort.
Earlier this week, Cassidy spoke about her plans for the anniversary, saying she intended to stay busy. She said: "I like to stay busy. It keeps my mind positive and keeps my mind active." Payne had been on holiday with Cassidy in Argentina, but she had returned home before his death. He chose to stay on a few extra days.
If you have been affected by this story, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free help. Call 0808 808 1677 or visit their website.
