The family of the late One Direction star Liam Payne are facing a fresh wave of grief as a place filled with childhood memories is set to disappear. His senior school is being knocked down, prompting an emotional response from his sister, Ruth Gibbins.
A Sister's Heartfelt Tribute
Ruth Gibbins took to her Instagram Story on Friday to share her sorrow upon hearing that part of their old senior school is being demolished. She recalled vivid, sweet memories of her brother waiting by her locker, often to ask her for money.
She wrote poignantly that the news "feels like all of him is being removed from the planet." Ruth expressed how the constant change in familiar places is a painful reminder of his absence, adding, "all the places we've been are changing and he's not here to change with them." She ended her message with a powerful quote: "A thousand tiny losses every single day."
Kate Cassidy's Unwavering Love
Meanwhile, Liam's girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, has been openly navigating her own profound grief. The 26-year-old influencer broke down in tears in a recent TikTok video, directly addressing online critics who suggested she should stop speaking about Liam and 'move on'.
The pair had been in a relationship for two years before his tragic death in 2024. Liam Payne died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A subsequent toxicology report found alcohol and cocaine in his system.
In her emotional video, Kate made a defiant and clear statement about her enduring love. "Whoever I end up with in my future will have to accept the fact I will always love Liam," she declared. She emphasised that he was not just a famous figure to her, but her boyfriend and best friend.
Kate explained her perspective on loss, stating, "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." She also shared her hopes for the future, including marriage and children, but stressed that any future partner must be comfortable with Liam's lasting place in her life.
Navigating Public Grief and Private Pain
The public expressions of mourning have not been without tension. Last month, Kate appeared to respond to indirect criticism from Liam's sister, Ruth. In a prior tribute, Ruth had written that some people seemed "more interested in the fame they can gain" from Liam's death, urging others to remember the human loss: a son without his father, parents without their child, and a sister without her brother.
This followed Kate sharing images from a luxury hotel stay that coincided with the anniversary of Liam's death on October 16. The complex dynamics of grieving in the public eye continue to unfold for those closest to the singer.
Both Ruth Gibbins and Kate Cassidy are, in their own ways, confronting the painful reality of life after loss, where physical places linked to Liam vanish and the challenge of honouring his memory publicly is met with both support and scrutiny.
