Kate Cassidy, the former girlfriend of late One Direction star Liam Payne, is gradually rebuilding her life a year after his death. Payne, 31, died on October 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A toxicology report revealed alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants were in his system.
Cassidy, 26, struggled with severe depression following the tragedy. A friend told the Daily Mail: 'There were months where I literally didn’t see her smile... She canceled a lot of hangouts and just was almost a recluse.' The friend added that Cassidy is now spending more time with friends and is open to dating again, though taking it slowly. 'She knows it’s what he would have wanted,' the friend said.
Cassidy has resumed posting on social media with more upbeat content. She is ignoring claims from Braian Nahuel Paiz, a former hotel server who admitted supplying Payne with cocaine and alleged spending hours with him the day before his death. Her friend said: 'Kate doesn’t pay any attention... She knows what she and Liam had, and that it was very, very good.'
Speaking at a NAMI event on October 6, Cassidy said: 'I was just not wanting to really live my life. After several weeks, I finally realized, “Ok, I need to live my life, I need to get up, get out of bed.”' She started with small steps, setting alarms, working out, and living her life in memory of Payne.
Despite criticism over some Instagram posts, her friend defended her: 'This is her starting to smile again... everyone who knew Liam knows, this is what he’d want for her.'
