Liam Payne’s Girlfriend Kate Cassidy Posts A Moving Tribute

In the wake of Liam Payne’s death at 31 on Oct. 16, many of the late singer’s family, friends, and fans have paid tribute to him on social media as part of their grieving process. His girlfriend, model Kate Cassidy, joined them on Oct. 23, sharing a heartbreaking tribute to her “best friend” and now “guardian angel.”

Cassidy, who was first linked to Payne in October 2022, posted eight photos of the couple on Instagram, alongside a poignant letter to her late love. She also included a photo of him, a note he’d written, and an explanation of the “angel number” 444, which held special significance to them.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Cassidy started her letter. “My heart is shattered in ways I can’t put into words.”

She addressed how much the former One Direction star meant to people, saying, “I wish you could see the huge impact you’ve had on the world, even as it feels so dark right now. You brought so much happiness and positivity to everyone--millions of fans, your family, friends, and especially me. You are so incredibly loved.”

She also struggled to use the past tense, adding, “You are--because I can’t say were--my best friend, the love of my life, and everyone you touched felt just as special as I did.”

Cassidy remembered Payne’s “contagious” energy and how he’d light up “every room.” She made it clear how much she feels his absence, writing, “I’m struggling to figure out how to live in a world without you by my side.”

“It feels like I’ve lost the best part of myself,” she added. “I can’t imagine a day without your laughter and love. You brought so much light into my life.”

Cassidy further mourned the loss of the future they had planned together. She revealed he’d written a note he’d asked her not to look at that said, “Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever 444.” Looking ahead, she promised to love him and keep him with her and called him “a guardian angel.”

Payne and Cassidy were together in Argentina shortly before his death, but Cassidy went home ahead of him. “I was so ready to leave, honestly,” she told her TikTok followers on Oct. 14. “Love South America, but I hate staying in one place for too long. And we were supposed to be there for, like, five days. Turned into two weeks and I was just like, ‘I need to go home.’”

Tragically, Payne died two days later, falling from the third-floor hotel room where he’d been staying in Buenos Aires, per local police.

“We are heartbroken,” his family said in a statement. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”