Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy has revealed One Direction fans sent her death threats following the singer’s tragic passing.
The singer, 31, died in October after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cassidy, 25, had been with Payne on the trip but returned to their Florida home early to look after their rescue dog, Nala.
She denied allegations that she had abandoned Payne on the holiday and said she was forced to delete social media due to the barrage of abusive messages she received in the wake of his death, with trolls calling her a “gold digger” among other insults.
“I understand that some of the more negative comments come from a place of loving Liam, and concern, and caring for Liam,” she told The Sun.
“So I understand that because I love Liam too. But for sure it's hard because obviously any criticism will get to you.”
The US influencer added that she learned to have a “thick skin” against trolls and to embrace Payne’s “positive attitude” to life.
“Liam would want me to be as strong as I can be, and just have a thick skin. That's one thing he always taught me. He grew up in this life, and he always was just so positive about it and said, ‘Don't let any hate get to you,’” she said.
Cassidy also revealed she was criticised over her appearance at Payne’s funeral in November, which she attended with her friend, Liz Hurley’s son Damian.
The service was held at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and was attended by the late singer’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
Cassidy defended her decision to wear makeup on the day, saying she wanted to “look beautiful for my boyfriend one last time”.
The model added that the service was “beautiful” and Payne’s former One Direction bandmates were “lovely” to her.
Cassidy has returned to her family home in New Jersey since moving out of the multi-million-pound rented Florida mansion she had lived in with Payne.
The vlogger, who met Payne in 2022, shared an emotional tribute to the singer online a week after his death.
“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,” she wrote on Instagram.
Payne, who rose to fame with boy band One Direction when they were formed on ITV talent show The X Factor in 2010, died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, a post-mortem examination report said.
An investigation has been launched by prosecutors and several people have been charged in connection with his death.
