Liam Payne's girlfriend shares last text she sent and tragic message after
Kate Cassidy has reflected on the moment she learned of the singer’s death in her first interview
Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy has reflected on the moment she learned of the singer’s death and also said that “it still doesn’t feel fully real for me that he’s not here”.
One Direction star Payne died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. He had been staying in the country with Cassidy who flew back to Florida just days prior to his death.
Speaking to The Sun in her first interview since the tragedy, she said: "Love is so optimistic, and you just hope that everything will work out at the end. Obviously if I knew, if I could see into the future, I would never have left Argentina."
She continued: "I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We had our dog and obviously I never, ever thought this event would occur. It was a tragic accident and no, I never did think (he might die young). But, you know, we did have our own separate lives — this wasn’t the first time we have travelled separately. I just never thought this would have happened, that it would turn out the way it did."
Kate revealed she had sent him a text message that would become her last before his heartbreaking death. Kate had told Liam: "I can’t wait for you to get home and see the house." She had decorated their home for Halloween, which was supposed to be a surprise upon Liam's return.
An emotional Kate revealed that it was later a message about the same decorations that brought home the reality of Liam's absence. She had hired a man to fix their lights and he messaged her three days after Liam's death asking if he had liked his Halloween surprise.
Liam with Kate in March 2023 at the "All Of Those Voices" UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square (Image: WireImage)
On the moment she heard of Liam’s death, she said: “I feel blessed I didn’t find out over social media because I just couldn’t even imagine that. I was in our home with our dog, scrolling TikTok and one of Liam’s friends called me. 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. 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?’ 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 (her dog) thought I was trying to play, she kept jumping up at me. I didn’t sleep at all that night."
Five people have been charged in Argentina in connection with the death, three with manslaughter and two with supplying cocaine. The British musician died from “polytrauma”, meaning multiple traumatic injuries.
Payne’s funeral, held in November in Buckinghamshire, was attended by Cheryl, the mother of his son Bear, and fellow One Direction stars Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, along with his family and friends.
After his band went on hiatus he launched a successful solo career, releasing his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019, which included the songs Polaroid and Strip That Down featuring Quavo, as well as the track For You with Rita Ora.
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