Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy has been spotted for the first time since the tragic news of the singer's death. The star sadly fell from the third floor of a hotel, an event that sent shockwaves across the globe last week.
Just two days before his untimely passing, Kate had left Argentina.
The 25 year old actress, who reportedly felt "betrayed" and "hurt" following police questioning of two escorts claiming to have partied with the former One Direction star prior to his death, was seen looking sombre in Florida over the weekend. Visiting Jake's Pet Supplies without makeup, in pictures obtained by the Mirror, she donned grey tracksuit bottoms, a white oversized 'This Ain't Texas' t-shirt, and Christian Dior sandals.
She was there to pick up food for the dog she and Liam shared. After her trip to the pet store, which is close to the couple's rented mansion in Wellington, she dropped off the beloved pet
On Friday, Kate, who had been with Liam for two years, took to Instagram to pay tribute to the father of one, as his fans offered their heartfelt condolences. In a moving post, she expressed being at "a complete loss" and 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."
Kate and her partner had jetted off to Argentina to catch One Direction's Niall Horan in concert, subsequently extending their trip. After a fortnight, Kate was eager to return home, sharing on TikTok: "Honestly, love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long. And we were supposed to be there for, like, five days, turned into two weeks. I was just like, 'I need to go home'."
Yet, in a tragic turn of events, just hours before he tragically fell from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony, Liam reached out to two women via an Argentine website, Gemidos - known for offering companionship.
This has sparked discussions about the personal challenges he may have been grappling with. The subsequent police questioning of the two escorts, who claim to have partied with Liam prior to his passing, has reportedly left Kate feeling "betrayed" and "hurt".
Upon their arrival at the hotel, Lucile and Aldana, who had not previously met, presented ID at reception and were taken to Liam's room 310. According to the Mirror, Liam greeted them with a calm demeanour and a smile.
Inside the room, the mood was said to be calm. The singer provided alcohol for the women – champagne for them and a bottle of scotch for himself.
Police testimonies reveal that no drugs were taken, with half-empty glasses strewn about, marking the fleeting camaraderie among the trio. Both women have refuted any role in Liam's demise in their statements, claiming they only spent a brief period with him, consumed drinks, and departed following a dispute over payment.
They both denied having sexual relations with him, carefully avoiding the topic during interrogation. However, Prosecutor Roma is convinced by their stories and does not view them as suspects.
Subsequent to these events, an alleged friend of Kate has reportedly shared her reaction with The New York Post, stating: "She just has heard about the prostitutes. She knew nothing about that. She just said she has to wrap her mind around it."
The insider continued: "That's obviously a huge betrayal to her, and that hurts a lot. She hasn't stopped crying. She's devastated. She's got a good support system around her, but this just went from bad to worse. She's not OK."
They added: "She has a few people around her, including family members. She's not alone. She's responsive to me and our other friends. We'll all help her however we can."
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Kate and Liam had been a couple for two years, recently setting up home in Florida. The pair were first romantically linked in October 2022, making their red carpet debut just two months later.
Their last shared Instagram post was from a wedding in Paris, mere weeks before Liam's untimely passing. The star's funeral is set to take place next month, with updates on the autopsy revealing that Liam's body will likely remain in Argentina for between 10 and 15 days until toxicology test results are available.
Once the investigation concludes, the singer's remains will be returned to his family and repatriated to England, as per local media reports. In heart-wrenching scenes, Liam's father, Geoff, was spotted reading the numerous condolence messages for his son by a candlelit shrine outside the Casa Sur hotel in Argentina.
The grieving father had travelled to the South American country to identify the body and arrange its repatriation.
If you or someone you know has been affected by any issues raised in this article, support and information can be accessed by calling the Samaritans at 116 123.
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