Liam Payne’s tragic death shocked fans worldwide, and his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, has now broken her silence in an emotional interview. She opens up about the heartbreaking moments before his death and why she had to leave him in Argentina.
Leaving Argentina early
Kate, 25, revealed she never expected this devastating outcome. “I had a responsibility,” she told The Sun, explaining that she left early to care for their rescue dog, Nala, back home in Florida. She added, “I never thought something like this would happen.”
The tragic fall
Liam, 31, tragically died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was there to attend a concert by his former bandmate, Niall Horan. His sudden death left everyone in shock, including Kate, who had met Liam in 2022.
A love that felt like fate
In her first interview since the tragedy, Kate opened up about her devastation. She described Liam as “my best friend, the love of my life.” Their bond was deep, and she had always believed they were soulmates. Kate recalled meeting Liam for the first time in 2022 when she was working as a waitress in South Carolina, and she had loved him since she was 10. It felt like fate.
Their fairytale romance
The couple’s romance blossomed quickly. They spent two days together in a hotel before Liam was set to fly back to Florida. Kate never imagined that these would be their last moments together. She called Liam the “most humble and charming person” she’d ever met and insisted she was not to blame for his death.
Despite her rising influencer career, with more than 2.5 million followers, Kate had always prioritized her relationship with Liam. She later moved back to New Jersey after their shared home in Florida became too painful to stay in.
The heartbreaking phone call
The devastating phone call came while Kate was at home. She described the moment as a “blackout” and initially couldn’t believe the news. In disbelief, she tried calling Liam’s phone – it still rang. It wasn’t until one of Liam’s friends called her that the gravity of the situation hit.
Kate didn’t get the tragic news through social media, which she said she was grateful for. She was with their dog at the time, and a family member quickly flew out to be with her as she processed the heartbreak.
Her last text to Liam, sent just before his death, had been about how she couldn’t wait for him to come home and see the house. She had been decorating for Halloween and excited to share the surprise with him. Three days after his death, a worker she had hired reached out, asking if Liam had liked the decorations. That was the moment she realized he would never come home.
Liam’s struggles with addiction
Liam had been open about his struggles with mental health and addiction. He had gone through therapy and rehab in the past. However, on the night of his death, his hotel room showed signs of a drink-and-drug binge, with paraphernalia scattered around and an open champagne bottle. Kate said she never imagined Liam was in such a fragile state, and his relapse came as a shock.
The legal fallout
Liam’s fall from the hotel balcony has sparked legal investigations. Authorities have charged five people over the incident, including the hotel manager, receptionist, and Liam’s friend, Roger Nores. Two others have been charged for supplying drugs.
Kate’s final thoughts
Kate, who is still processing everything, could not share many details about the investigation. She did, however, stress that when she left Argentina, Liam was in a good headspace. Their relationship was strong, and they were more in love than ever.
