Kate Cassidy, the former girlfriend of the late One Direction star Liam Payne, has shared a poignant and personal glimpse into her grief this Christmas, posting previously unseen footage of the singer alongside a heartbreaking message about her loss.
A Festive Memory Shared
The 26-year-old model, who dated Payne from 2022 until his tragic death in October 2024, took to TikTok to reminisce about their time together during the holidays. She recalled how Payne, who was 31 when he died, had a particular fondness for ordering gingerbread men which they would enjoy as a couple.
"He'd always get so many gingerbread cookies and they were always so weird looking, with one eye up high and another down by its leg," Cassidy told her followers in a video from her kitchen. The accompanying unseen clip showed the couple in bed, with Payne declaring the biscuits "The best ever." The footage clearly displayed the haphazardly decorated cookies with their lopsided faces.
A Poignant Message for the New Year
In a separate, deeply emotional post on Instagram, Cassidy shared a short video of herself watching a sunset by the ocean with her dog. The caption she chose carried a weight of sorrow and a fragile hope. "God said, 'This year I made you strong, next year I am going to make you happy,'" she wrote, adding a crossed fingers emoji.
This update comes after Cassidy has been open with her followers about the immense difficulty of processing her grief. Payne died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with subsequent tests confirming he was intoxicated at the time.
"I Will Always Love Liam"
In a recent and raw TikTok video, Cassidy made it clear that Payne's memory will forever be a part of her life, a non-negotiable aspect for any future partner. "Whoever I end up with in my future will have to accept the fact I will always love Liam," she stated firmly.
She elaborated, explaining the depth of their connection: "Liam Payne was my boyfriend. He wasn’t just this famous figure to me... He was my best friend, somebody I really thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with."
Cassidy poignantly referenced a well-known quote about loss, saying, "When a person dies, they die twice, once when they actually die and the second time when you stop speaking about them. I’m not going to have Liam die twice on me. I will love him forever."
Her followers have flooded her posts with support. One wrote, "We are always standing behind you Kate," while another offered: "Grief is not linear... Take both as they come. Nobody grieves in the same way. Sending you so much love."
The singer's family are also navigating their loss. His sister, Ruth Gibbins, recently expressed distress upon learning his old school was to be demolished, feeling it was another piece of his memory being dismantled.
