Liam Payne’s sister appears to criticise Kate Cassidy over anniversary tributes
The sister of the late Liam Payne has seemingly taken a swipe at his girlfriend Kate Cassidy for sharing a string of social media posts marking the first anniversary of the singer’s death.
Ruth Payne Gibbons spoke out via Instagram on Friday, the anniversary of the former One Direction star’s tragic passing in October 2024.
“Everyone only seems interested in the public side of this,” she wrote. “Some sadly seem more interested in the fame they can gain off this, but on the human side people need to remember when they speak, there is a son without his Dad, parents without their child and I am lost without my brother.”
In a heartfelt message to her “little brother,” Ruth added, “I hope I get the chance to be your sister in every lifetime.” She accompanied the post with a playful photo of Liam dressed as a pirate and a group picture with the pop star.
Her emotional words came just hours after Cassidy, 26, posted a moving tribute to Liam on TikTok. The influencer shared a video of them dancing together in a park.
“This video was taken during the last hour and last day Liam and I shared in this lifetime,” she wrote. “I am forever grateful for the beautiful moments we shared. I will miss you for the rest of my life, Liam.”
Cassidy also posted a second video, staring into the distance with the quote: “Grief is a reminder of how lucky I am to have loved someone so much that I will endure missing them the rest of my life.”
On Instagram, she shared a photo of the couple cuddling with the caption: “Today marks a full year without you here. I will forever hate goodbyes. I miss you Liam.”
Liam died on 16 October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. Cassidy had left Argentina just two days earlier, after the couple had spent time together attending Niall Horan’s concert on 4 October.
Earlier this month, Cassidy revealed to Page Six that she had struggled with depression following Liam’s death.
“I was always just kind of doing nothing and just dealing with that grief and pain,” she said. It took “about two months” for her to begin feeling ready to live again. “I finally realised, ‘OK, I need to live my life, I need to get up, get out of bed,’” she explained.
As the anniversary approached, she said she planned to keep herself busy to protect her mental health. “I think that really helps my headspace,” Cassidy shared.
Liam’s death continues to weigh heavily on his loved ones, as the world remembers the beloved singer one year on.
