Kate Cassidy publicly acknowledged the first anniversary of Liam Payne’s death, sharing a poignant tribute to the late musician. Her Instagram post Thursday, October 16, marked a full year since the One Direction star’s passing, underscoring the enduring grief of those he left behind.
“Today marks a full year without you here,” Cassidy, 26, wrote. “I’ll always hate goodbyes. I miss you Liam.” Accompanying the heartfelt message was an old black-and-white photograph depicting Cassidy and Payne intimately embracing in bed, a tender glimpse into their private life.
Payne died in October 2024 (presumably 2023) at the age of 31, following a fall from a third-story balcony at the Hotel CasaSur Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His sudden death left his loved ones, including Cassidy, his parents, his sisters Nicola and Ruth, and his son Bear, whom he shared with ex-partner Cheryl Cole, reeling from the tragic news.
Cassidy had been vacationing with Payne in Argentina just before his death but had returned to the United States a few days prior. Months after the incident, she openly expressed her profound regret over having left the country without him. In a February interview with The Sun, Cassidy reflected on her disbelief. She stated that if she had known what would happen, she would have never left Argentina, adding that it still feels unreal that he is gone.
Payne was laid to rest in November 2024 (presumably 2023) in Amersham, England. The funeral saw an assembly of his family and close friends, including Cassidy and all his former One Direction bandmates: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.
Since his death, Cassidy has been candid about her struggle with grief. During an appearance on the British morning program Lorraine in March, she confessed to the difficulty of accepting the singer’s absence. She shared that she often finds herself speaking of him in the present tense and does not feel the need to correct herself. Cassidy views this as part of her healing process, as referring to him in the past tense makes his death feel more official and brings greater pain.
Despite the challenges, Cassidy affirmed she is doing her best to cope, acknowledging that some days are harder than others due to the unexpected nature of Payne’s passing. She credited her friends and family as a crucial support system during these arduous times, helping her to stay productive. She emphasized her efforts to engage in activities like yoga and long walks, striving not to remain isolated at home.
Just two months prior to this anniversary, in August, Cassidy honored what would have been Payne’s 32nd birthday. She baked a cake in his memory, captioning a TikTok video of the process with, “Happy birthday Liam. I know you still have the sweetest tooth in heaven. I’m not very good at baking these days.” The video captured her emotional journey, as she shed tears while lighting the candles. The tribute concluded with Cassidy cutting a slice of cake for Nala, the dog she and Payne adopted from a shelter just a month before his untimely death.