Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy had reportedly demanded he stop taking drugs before she left him to holiday alone in Buenos Aires, Argentina, days before he fell to his death
Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, spent his last few weeks alive on a sunny holiday with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, before he tragically fell to his death. The couple, who had been together for over two years, were enjoying a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
They watched Liam’s ex-bandmate, Niall Horan, perform at a concert in the South American capital. In cheerful selfies, the pair seemed to be having a great time on their holiday.
However, things took a turn when Kate abruptly left and returned to the US before disaster struck. On Wednesday, October 16, Liam was found dead after falling from a third-floor balcony at his hotel, Casa Sur Palmero.
Despite reportedly being drug-free in his final months, Liam appeared to have relapsed, with the initial toxicology report finding traces of “alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants” in his system. Today, Liam’s family and friends will say their final goodbyes at a private funeral service held at a church in the Home Counties.
In the days leading up to his untimely death, there were no signs of the impending tragedy. Sharing a picture of himself with Kate at the breakfast table, he captioned it: “Lovely day in Argentina [love heart emoji],” reports the Mirror.
He filmed the former waitress waving to the camera, before she revealed how they “sleep in everyday until 12, we’re such losers.” To which Liam replied: “No” before giggling.
But Liam ended up experiencing Argentina solo after Kate decided to head back to Florida. On TikTok, before the tragic event, she expressed her restlessness: “I was so ready to leave. Love South America, but I hate staying in one place for too long and we were supposed to be there for five days, turned into two weeks and I was just like, ‘I need to go home.’” Liam chose to remain at the hotel, and tragically, about 48 hours later, he was discovered deceased.
Reports emerged that Kate had given him a stark choice before departing – quit drugs or lose her. A source close to the situation told the New York Post: “His drug use was causing a lot of drama. So she gave him an ultimatum: her or the drugs. She thought she was doing tough love.”
Liam’s relationship with Kate was fairly new, having started in 2022. They first appeared together in Halloween attire, with Kate as Pamela Anderson and Payne as her former spouse Tommy Lee. They made their red carpet debut two months later at the British Fashion Awards in London.
Kate even claimed she had ‘manifested’ her relationship with the celebrity when she was only 10 years old, sharing on TikTok in November 2023: “I am the best manifester, and I’m going to show you why.”
Kate shared a touching story about creating a makeshift pop star figure, saying, “She revealed she had drawn an image of the pop singer onto a ‘popsicle stick,’ adding: ‘And somehow 10 years later.’” Recalling a moment of nostalgic surprise, she recorded opening the door to her childhood bedroom to find the actual pop singer, Liam, waiting on her bed, prompting her playful warning, “Be careful what you wish for! ” More recently, Kate has given her 250,000 Instagram followers a glimpse into her holiday with Liam. Sharing an equestrian photo, she expressed her appreciation, stating, “I am very grateful for the simple things in life.”
In another photograph showing the couple together, she reflected on their shared moments, describing them as “Quality time.” Coping with Liam’s passing, Kate posted moving tributes online.
In one, she revealed Liam’s marriage intentions, sharing a heart-rending note he wrote before his death; Kate relayed this personal message on Instagram, explaining how they both envisioned their future. She now cherishes the note where Liam envisaged marriage within the next year, symbolized by ‘444’.
Overcome with emotion, Kate wrote: “A few weeks ago, we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together. I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said, ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged and together forever 444’. Liam, I know we’ll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You’ll always be with me. I’ve gained a guardian angel.”
She added: “I will love you for the rest of my life and beyond, carrying our dreams and memories with me everywhere I go. Forever yours, Katelyn 444.”
The number 444 in numerology is believed to be a positive sign from the angels, symbolising protection, encouragement and love.
