Jay Shetty & Kate Cassidy ON Last Conversation with Liam Payne

How does one cope with unimaginable loss while the world watches?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty was joined by Kate Cassidy, the ex-girlfriend of the former One Direction star Liam Payne. Cassidy shares her deeply emotional journey through love, tragic loss, and healing. The sudden passing of Liam Payne in October 2023 sent shockwaves through the hearts of fans worldwide, but his girlfriend was undoubtedly the most deeply impacted.

Meeting Liam Payne

Before meeting Liam Payne, Kate Cassidy lived an ordinary life in New Jersey - with an American father and a British mother, she had connections with the UK. She told Jay Shetty that she had never done anything out of the ordinary before meeting Payne. Cassidy attended Coastal Carolina University and moved to Charleston, South Carolina, with a friend after graduation.

Unsure of what career path to follow, Cassidy started by working weekends as a waitress. During her second week at that particular lounge, she was surprised to find out that one of her guests was no other than Liam Payne. The One Direction star's ex-girlfriend explains how she was overcome by emotions because she had always had a crush on him.

Payne was very humble and down-to-earth, which made her nervousness quickly melt away. Cassidy told Jay Shetty that the conversation flowed, and they both felt immediate chemistry. The One Direction star even delayed his departure from the city just to spend more time with Cassidy, allowing her to show him around town. From that encounter on, they were inseparable.

From Fan to Partner

Payne and Cassidy spent almost all the time after the first meeting in each other's company: they went to the beach, sightseeing, and enjoyed meals together. The singer's ex-girlfriend described to Jay Shetty how an innocent flirt turned very fast into a deep emotional connection.

A week after they first met, Cassidy traveled to London to meet Payne. She admitted to Jay Shetty that she was apprehensive in the beginning of their relationship because she couldn't believe her childhood crush was now her partner. The two complemented each other's lives - Payne introduced his girlfriend to a world of luxury and travel, while Cassidy brought normalcy and simplicity to their relationship.

Publicly, the One Direction star and his girlfriend attended various events and openly shared their love with fans and the media. However, Cassidy reveals to Jay Shetty that their connection deepened mainly behind closed doors, in day-to-day interactions.

Facing the Public Eye Together

Going public with their relationship was both exciting and intimidating for Kate Cassidy, as she openly admitted to Jay Shetty. She suddenly found herself in the spotlight as the One Direction star's girlfriend and had to deal with scrutiny from fans and the media. Not all reactions to the news were positive, and some fans even insinuated she stayed with Payne for his money. All this newfound attention felt overwhelming for Cassidy.

However, the One Direction star helped her navigate the overnight fame. He stood up for her through public comments and continuously reassured her that online hate doesn't have to influence their happy daily life. Cassidy told Jay Shetty that Liam's composure when facing such heavy online criticism made her feel more confident.

Yet Payne's ex-girlfriend didn't come out unscathed; it was difficult for her to navigate all the online negativity, and some comments would manage to emotionally impact her offline life, too. Fortunately, her boyfriend was always supportive and helped her push through the noise. They faced public life as a united front, protecting their love and relationship from external pressure.

Mental Health and Addiction

Kate Cassidy opened up to Jay Shetty about Payne's addiction and struggle with his mental health. Because she had never been exposed to such behavior before, it was initially difficult for Payne's girlfriend to understand it. However, she got to see the effect it had on Payne and how he struggled to recover from it.

Initially, Cassidy wondered why he wouldn't simply stop using substances. Yet, over time, she realized how complex these habits are and how the user cannot stop because it is an involuntary addiction. She shared with Jay Shetty how she witnessed first-hand Payne wanting to stop, but eventually succumbing to his impulses despite his best intentions. She explained it was not a matter of willpower, but much deeper than that.

Kate Cassidy became a vital part of Liam Payne's recovery journey. She focused on creating routines that encouraged him to get out of bed, enjoy life, and maintain structure and organization without overwhelming him. Cassidy told Jay Shetty that she made sure to adapt their daily plans to meet his emotional needs.

Building a Life Together

Cassidy shared with Jay Shetty the joy of creating a life together with her ex-boyfriend. Payne enjoyed evenings in, yet she encouraged him to join activities that improved his mood, even if he was initially reluctant to engage in them. Their life was a balanced mix of simplicity and spontaneity, due to their complementary personality styles.

The couple had routines in place that aided in combating his struggles with addiction and mental health. Cassidy shared how she contributed to the improvement of his condition by constantly being there and encouraging him, and their love and dedication to each other were visible to everyone around them.

The Day Everything Changed

Kate Cassidy opened up to Jay Shetty about the moment she heard the news of Liam Payne's passing. She was in their shared home in Florida with their dog when she received a call from a worried friend of the singer's. Cassidy couldn't believe it at first, dismissing the report as a misunderstanding or a rumor. Yet, the more calls she made, the more real it all became.

Payne's ex-girlfriend recounts entering a state of shock when the news was confirmed - she remembers walking around the house, sweating, unable to process the reality of the news that Liam Payne was gone. She shared that friends, family, and even acquaintances she hadn't spoken to in years flooded her with phone calls. 

Cassidy felt overwhelmed and isolated. Her housekeeper returned to her home after hearing the news, and they both cried together, hugging. Shortly after, her friends and family began arriving from out of state to be with her and hold her hand through this difficult time in her life. 

Payne's ex-girlfriend describes the early hours to Jay Shetty as overwhelmed with grief, unable to sleep, and filled with disbelief. No money or fame in the world could console her in those particularly personal and difficult times.

Public Grief and the Search for Solace

In the days following Liam Payne's death, Cassidy had to face the challenge of mourning in the public eye. She admitted that while social media offered her some support, it was also a burden to carry. Her phone was bombarded with messages, tributes, and videos; while they came from a good place and commemorated the One Direction star's good life, they were also a painful reminder that her boyfriend was not gone forever.

Cassidy told Jay Shetty that she deleted her social media accounts so she could no longer see content related to Payne's death. Yet when she reinstalled her apps, it still often showed videos, songs, and images of him, which made the star’s ex-girlfriend feel a mix of emotions, from nostalgia to grief, and even a deeper sense of loss.

Connection Beyond Death

Kate Cassidy shared with Jay Shetty the personal messages she used to receive from Payne, often accompanied by a thoughtful gift. She explained that he was very fond of the so-called angel number 444, and signed his love notes with this number.

After the singer's passing, Cassidy believes he was sending her signs from beyond the grave. Shortly after his passing, he desperately asked him to send her a sign for reassurance. Later that day, she received a Happy Meal toy containing the number 444, which she interpreted as his way of communicating with her.

Kate Cassidy told Jay Shetty that she continued receiving signs from Payne in the form of repeated numbers, meaningful songs, and even familiar wallpaper designs in unfamiliar places. These perceived signs help her feel connected to the singer, even if he is not there physically. More importantly, the belief that he is by her side through the grieving process gives her hope and helps her heal.

A Love That Lives On

Kate Cassidy honors Liam Payne's legacy through memory, presence, and purpose. She often reads his letters to her, each filled with love, vulnerability, and poetic reflection. Payne's ex-girlfriend explained that he was deliberate with every gift he made, be it a designer piece or a napkin scribbled with a sweet note. Now, Cassidy perceives these objects as symbols of a love that goes on even after death.

Payne's ex-girlfriend told Jay Shetty that her relationship taught her the importance of living life more fully. She felt like losing half of herself when her boyfriend died. Yet, she found the motivation to embrace life, to honor his legacy. Cassidy's story of separation didn't end with goodbye, but she makes sure to keep Payne's memory alive because he was someone she loved with all her heart.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “Kate Cassidy EXCLUSIVE: Sharing Her Last Conversation with Liam Payne and The Real Story Behind Their Relationship” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.