Late One Direction star Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy says she 'never thought' the singer would die young

The girlfriend of the late One Direction member Liam Payne has stated that she "never thought" the singer would die young. American influencer Kate Cassidy, who began dating Payne in 2022, described his passing as a "tragic accident" and expressed regret that she was not in Argentina when Payne died. This unexpected tragedy has deeply affected those close to him.

Cassidy, 25, revealed in an interview with The Sun that she left Argentina shortly before Payne, 31, fell to his death from the balcony of his Buenos Aires hotel room. In her first interview since Payne's death, Cassidy said, "No, I never thought (he might die young)... I just never thought something like that would happen." The suddenness of his passing left her in disbelief.

Cassidy continued, "Love is so optimistic, you always hope everything will eventually be okay. Obviously, if I knew, if I could have seen the future, I never would have left Argentina." Payne was in Buenos Aires at the time to attend a concert by his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan. Cassidy left Argentina to return to her home in Florida to care for their pet dog, Nara. Her responsibilities back home pulled her away from him during his final days.

Cassidy added, "I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We have our dog, and obviously I never thought something like that would happen." She described Payne as being in "good spirits" when she left Argentina. Payne died on October 16th of last year after falling from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. The circumstances surrounding his fall remain under investigation.

Prosecutors stated that Payne's toxicology report showed that "traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant were found in his system" prior to his death. Last December, five people were charged in connection with Payne's death. Two face charges of supplying drugs, while three others are accused of manslaughter, including a businessman associated with Payne in Argentina and two hotel managers. The legal proceedings are ongoing.

Payne rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, formed on the British television show "The X Factor" in 2010. He co-parents his 7-year-old son, Bear, with singer Cheryl Tweedy, from whom he separated in 2018. National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015. Support is available for those struggling with addiction.