Liam Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, has opened up about the difficulty of coming to terms with his death, nearly five months after the former One Direction star passed away.
Payne, who was 31, died last October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
In an emotional interview on ITV’s Lorraine, Cassidy admitted she still refers to him in the present tense, struggling with the reality of his absence.
“It’s hard for me to refer to him in the past tense, and when I do, it almost stings that little bit more because it just… it’s more official,” she shared.
“I find myself talking about him so much in the present tense, and I don’t even feel the need to correct myself. It’s part of my healing journey, and I’m still working on accepting the fact that he’s not here anymore.”
Cassidy appeared on the program to help launch the March4March campaign, encouraging people to walk an extra 10,000 steps per week for mental health.
She highlighted Payne’s openness about his struggles and expressed her belief that he would have supported the initiative.
“Liam was so open about his mental health, and I genuinely believe, in a way, he guided me to this campaign. He can no longer help people, but I can.”
She spoke about the role of walking in her own healing process, explaining that some days, even getting out of bed feels impossible.
“There are times I don’t want to do anything, but I have this responsibility… I have to get out of bed for [my dog] Nala. Whether it’s a five-minute or a 20-minute walk, it helps my mindset and mental health.”
Despite her grief, she expressed gratitude for her support system, which has helped her navigate the difficult days.
Remembering Payne, Cassidy described him as “one of a kind,” someone who could “light up any room” with his humor and warmth. “His presence was comforting, and that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Payne, who had previously been open about his battles with mental health and alcoholism, was honored at this year’s Brit Awards, where One Direction was celebrated for their seven career wins.
The day after the awards, his family released a statement asking for privacy amid ongoing speculation about his death, saying they would “forever remember the joy his music brought to the world.”
Last month, an Argentinian court dropped charges of criminal negligence against three of the five individuals who had been investigated in connection with Payne’s passing.
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