Liam Payne's girlfriend defends funeral outfit and shuts down 'gold digger' claim

Kate Cassidy has opened up about gold digger claims (Image: Getty)

Kate Cassidy, girlfriend of the late Liam Payne, has hit back at critics over her funeral attire and dismissed allegations that she was with the One Direction star solely for fame and fortune.

The 25 year old broke her silence for the first time since the tragic death of the One Direction sensation in October 2024. At just 31 years old, Liam suffered a fatal fall from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room in Argentina, where he and Kate were vacationing, leading to "internal and external haemorrhage".

In a recent interview with The Sun, Kate candidly addressed the harsh backlash she faced after his untimely death, including receiving death threats. "Obviously after his death there was a lot of speculation, and things that were said about me, and I was getting called certain labels."

She continued: "I never (asked him for money). Yeah, it's upsetting but it's just about having thick skin and I'm never going to let anybody tell me how my relationship was with Liam. The only two people that really know how strong a relationship was are me and Liam."

Defending the authenticity of their bond, Kate described her relationship with Liam as "authentic" and "real".

Kate Cassidy at Liam Payne's funeral (Image: Getty)

She also touched upon the criticism she faced on the day of Liam's funeral, with some social media users accusing her of wearing excessive makeup and seeking "attention".

Kate justified her choice of attire for the funeral and shared the poignant reason behind her look. "I genuinely wanted to just look beautiful for my boyfriend one last time; that's how he would want to see me, and that's how I would want him to remember me by," she said.

Since Liam's passing, Kate has retreated to her home in America, leaving behind the residences she once shared with the musician in London and Florida. She has now opened up about their relationship, having recently disclosed why she chose to leave Liam in Argentina and return to their Florida abode.

Earlier in the week, she mentioned her "responsibilities" and the need to care for their dog, Nala, as reasons for her return. Nonetheless, she describes his death as a "tragic accident" and insists she had no inkling that Liam would pass away just days after she left.

Kate Cassidy has shared an insight into her relationship with the late Liam Payne (Image: Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal)

The couple, she says, had plans to marry and have children later down the line (Image: Snapchat)

On October 16, while at their Florida mansion, Kate was browsing TikTok when she first learned of Liam's death.

She counts herself "blessed" that one of Payne's friends called to inform her, sparing her from discovering the tragic news on social media like many of his UK friends did. Struck by disbelief, Kate immediately reached for her phone to call Liam, initially convinced that the report was not true.

In the lead-up to his untimely death and following Kate's return home, Liam, who was candid about his previous battles, slipped back into drug and alcohol use. Kate had been his pillar during his times of addiction, confessing she "loved his soul".

Despite this setback, she noted that he seemed in a "good headspace" while they were in South America and even attended an exuberant Niall Horan concert which had fans overjoyed by the show.

From a young age, at only 10, Kate was enamoured with the Wolverhampton-hailing superstar, her room adorned with One Direction posters, revealing that he was her "childhood crush."

She spoke of the late musician as one of the most incredible people she'd ever encountered, stressing that his fame and immense wealth were of no consequence to her. Their story began in a South Carolina bar in September 2022 when Liam asked for her number and promptly invited her out.