Louis Tomlinson Remains Haunted by Liam Payne's Tragic Death
EXCLUSIVE: One Direction Singer's Family and Ex-Girlfriend Share Heartbreaking Tributes on Anniversary of Liam Payne's Tragic Passing
It's been a year since One Direction singer Liam Payne shockingly died at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The tragic incident has left fans and friends reeling, but none more so than his loved ones.
In a new interview, Liam's close friend and former bandmate Louis Tomlinson, 33, opened up about the devastating loss, confessing that he will "never accept" the fact that Liam is gone. Louis has been through his own share of grief after losing his mother to leukemia in 2016 and his younger sister Félicité just three years later due to an accidental overdose.
"I thought I'd be more prepared for something like this," Louis emotionally shared with The Scholarly Note. "But it didn't make a difference. It's still a shock, and it's something I'll never really accept. I don't think anyone can."
Liam's girlfriend at the time of his passing, Kate Cassidy, 26, has been sharing intimate moments with her late partner on social media to cope with her grief. On Thursday, she posted a heart-wrenching video clip on TikTok showing Liam playfully attempting to hoist her up into the air just hours before his untimely death.
"This video was taken during our last hour and day together in this lifetime," Kate wrote alongside the emotional clip. "I'm forever grateful for the beautiful moments we shared. I will miss you for the rest of my life, Liam."
In a separate post earlier that day, Kate shared a touching black-and-white photo of herself snuggled up with Liam in bed, captioning it: "The last time we spent together... I'll cherish this moment forever, Liam."
Liam's younger sister Ruth also took to social media to pay tribute to her beloved brother. Sharing a heart-wrenching family photo showing Liam dressed as a pirate, she wrote:
"1 year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days... however you say it, it still feels like the most heartbreaking truth that you're not here anymore. When you used to go away on tour and I'd cry because you'd be gone for a while, I always knew you'd come back. But now I can't get you home; we can't meet up somewhere in the world; we can't FaceTime or text each other... it's an eternal feeling of homesickness because we can never go back."
Ruth also revealed that she still struggles to cope with her brother's loss, admitting that she has a recurring nightmare reliving his final moments in the hotel room. The 30-year-old sister confessed:
"It will never make sense to me how this happened. I keep thinking it was all just a terrible dream and you'll come home to me."
Liam's older sister Nicola also shared her heartfelt tribute, describing her brother's passing as "a pain that will never heal." She posted intimate photos of Liam with their niece Ffion and son Bear, revealing how the family has kept his memory alive for both children.
"My little ones need to know about their amazing daddy," Nicola wrote. "Bear is growing up so fast, but he still lights up when I show him pictures of Liam. And Ffion... oh Ffion! She was just a baby when you passed away, and now she's starting to understand the concept of losing someone she loves."
As for Liam's ex-partner Cheryl, 42, The Scholarly Note spotted her putting on a brave face at Girls Aloud bandmate Nicola Roberts' 40th birthday celebrations the night before the anniversary. This marks only the second time Cheryl has been seen in public since Liam's funeral.
The family and friends of Liam Payne continue to mourn his passing, but their tributes serve as a reminder that even in death, he will never be forgotten.