After hearing the tragic news of One Direction member Liam Payne’s death, Kate Cassidy, who was dating Payne at the time, made her first public statement.
Cassidy and Payne had been traveling across Argentina when Payne, 31, fatally fell from his hotel’s third-floor balcony.
Police were called to the hotel on Wednesday (October 16) over reports of a ‘guest drunk with drugs and alcohol’, according to a transcript of the 911 call.
Authorities were informed by Alberto Crescenti, chief of the state emergency medical system, that Payne had ‘injuries that were incompatible with life’ after falling from his balcony.
In a TikTok video that she made just two days before Payne passed away, Cassidy said that she was “so ready to leave” Argentina.
She added: “Honestly, I love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long and we were supposed to be there for like five days and it turned into two weeks and I was just like I need to go home.”
Upon her return to the United States, Cassidy expressed her immense joy at being home and recorded herself grabbing a bagel before turning in for the night.
Cassidy has now issued a statement in the wake of Payne’s death.
“Thank you for all the kind words and love that has been sent my way. I have been at a complete loss,” she wrote.
“Nothing about the past few days have felt real.
“I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.
“Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely.
“I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”
In 2022, Cassidy, a social media influencer, started dating Payne.
Putting a picture of Payne on a popsicle stick when she was 10 years old was her way of “manifesting” the relationship, she joked before.
In the video, Cassidy said: “And somehow 10 years later…” then opened the door to her childhood bedroom to reveal the real-life Payne on her bed.
Along with the photo, she wrote: “The power of manifesting, I guess.”
Together, the couple graced the red carpet and filmed their worldly adventures, which included stops in iconic cities like New York, Spain, and Italy.
Fans of the couple have been sharing their condolences to Cassidy in the wake of Payne’s death, with one writing: “Thanks for making Liam happy, so sorry for your loss.”