Fans are mourning the loss of Liam Payne, aged 31, after he fell from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires and died from "very serious injuries incompatible with life". In their two-year romance, Liam and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy made countless cherished memories, including their trip to Argentina that was intended to be another joyful experience.
Tragically, it turned into heartbreak as fans and friends poured in with tributes for the beloved One Direction star. Liam's early supporters and newer followers alike have flooded social media with messages of condolence, many sharing their heartfelt sorrow for his partner Kate, who is only 25.
The couple shared a profound bond, underscored by Liam's fierce defence of Kate against naysayers questioning her intentions. He had once passionately stated: "I've never felt a love like I do for Katelyn."
READ MORE: Liam Payne confessed 'massive' regret after waking up in pain from 'wavy' night
Marriage note
Kate disclosed on Instagram that Liam had plans to propose to her, revealing he had written a note about marrying her—the contents of which he had asked her not to read until later—written during a night where they dreamed of their future together. A future tragically cut short, leaving behind dreams unfulfilled and a note unbearably filled with might-have-beens, reports the Mirror.
Kate penned a heart-wrenching tribute: "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."
In numerology, the number 444 is seen as an angel number, symbolising guidance, support, and love from the angels that watch over us.
Decision to leave
Before his unexpected passing, Liam shared a final social media video showing him and the 25 year old influencer enjoying breakfast, captioned: "Lovely day in Argentina [love heart emoji]."
The clip featured Kate waving and sharing how they "sleep in everyday until 12, we're such losers." to which Liam responded with a simple "No" and a giggle.
However, their time together in South America was cut short as Kate chose to return to Florida. She confessed on TikTok that the extended stay in Argentina was beginning to feel overly lengthy before the tragic incident unfolded.
She said: "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 decided to linger at the hotel, and about 48 hours later, his body was discovered.
'Hostage' situation
In what's been dubbed a 'Hostage' situation, snaps from their getaway might look like paradise, but a mate of Kate's likened her Argentine stay to being held captive.
This anonymous friend told the New York Post that Kate was concerned about Liam possibly going off the rails once she jetted off, yet she couldn't stick it out any longer. The insider revealed: "She can't leave, or else who knows what will happen? And if she leaves, what will he do? But she has other responsibilities, other things that she's supposed to be doing. So she finally had to make a decision."
They added: "They're in Argentina and it's like a hostage situation. So she tells him she wants to leave, this is after a week. He begs her to stay. She keeps extending her trip, a day, two days. And he just wants her to stay, stay, stay.
"I get what people are saying, that she should just stay with her rich, famous boyfriend, but she wanted to be home in her own bed with her dog. She wanted to come home. So eventually she says she's going home."
'Betrayal'
Just hours before his tragic fall from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony, the late singer's decision to reach out to two women via an Argentine website has sparked questions about the personal battles he was grappling with in the days leading up to his untimely death. The site, Gemidos, is well-known in Argentina as a platform where hundreds of women across the nation offer companionship, complete with photos and detailed descriptions.
This revelation reportedly left Liam's girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, feeling "betrayed" and "hurt", following police questioning of the two escorts who claim they partied with the pop star prior to his demise. According to the Daily Mail, the pair, who confessed to being sex workers, alleged they were hired for a client at the CasaSur hotel through an online platform.
During their interrogation, the escorts admitted to "drinking alcohol" with Liam but denied any drug use. A source revealed to Argentine news outlet Clarin: "The witnesses were co-operative, not only in their statements but also in offering access to their phones."
The two women reported arriving at the Argentinian hotel at 11.30am and didn't depart until around 4pm, claiming their extended stay was due to non-payment.
Disturbingly, Liam's death was recorded by authorities at 5.07pm, just over an hour later. Meanwhile, a supposed friend of Kate disclosed her alleged reaction to 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 source revealed: "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.
"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."
Newly adopted dog
In happier times, mere weeks before he passed away, Liam and Kate had decided to jointly foster a dog from an animal shelter. A month prior to Liam's tragic accident, the couple were thrilled to bring Nala home, a lovable doggo they hoped to give 'a second chance'.
Excitedly sharing the news with fans then, Liam wrote: "I really love her. She is so cute. She is a tiny new member of the family for a while. We're going to foster her for a while and get her really nice for a loving family I think. But we might be the nice family."
Kate chimed in saying: "We did a meet and greet with three different dogs and this one fit us best. She's so sweet. She's only four months old. She was abandoned by her previous owners and dumped at the shelter. We wanted to give her a second chance and a better life."
Liam doted on another pooch as well, named Stan, whom he welcomed into his life back in February. An ardent animal lover, Liam shared the news on Facebook writing: "Welcome to the family, Stanley! Our hearts are bigger with you in it."
This week, pictures surfaced of a distraught Kate spotted buying dog food, in one of the first public sightings of the influencer since the tragic passing of Liam.
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