Liam Payne’s Girlfriend Opens Up In Emotional TV Interview

Kate Cassidy admits it’s still “really hard to accept” the loss of her boyfriend, former One Direction singer Liam Payne, more than four months after his death.

Cassidy became visibly emotional Wednesday while discussing Payne during an appearance on the British morning show “Lorraine.”

“I find myself talking about him so much in the present tense,” she said. “I don’t even feel the need to correct myself because that’s part of my healing journey. I’m still working on accepting the fact that he’s not here anymore, so it’s hard for me to refer to him in the past tense.”

“When I do refer to him in the past tense, it almost stings that little bit more,” she continued.

Watch Kate Cassidy’s interview on “Lorraine” below.

Payne was found dead Oct. 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.

A toxicology report found that the pop singer had multiple substances in his system at the time of his death, including cocaine, crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.

In December, Argentine authorities indicted five people ― including three employees at the hotel where Payne had been staying ― in connection with the singer’s death.

Cassidy had been by Payne’s side at the start of his Argentina visit. On Oct. 2, the two were spotted at Layne’s former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan’s concert at Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena.

Just days before Payne’s death, Cassidy confirmed on social media that she’d returned to the U.S. while he stayed behind in Argentina.

Elsewhere in her “Lorraine” interview, Cassidy said she was finding solace in her dog, Nala, whom she had shared with Payne.

“I have my better days, I have my harder days,” she said. “But I’m surrounded by such a great support system that I cannot thank enough, and having Nala around as well, obviously, again has helped me so much with my healing journey.”

Cassidy’s “Lorraine” appearance was meant to promote March4March, a mental health advocacy campaign. In her interview, she said her decision to take part in the campaign was, in part, intended as a tribute to Payne.

“I generally believe Liam, in a way, guided me to this campaign and wanted me to get involved in this and to help other people,” she said. “It’s something he would’ve wanted me to do.”

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.