Kate Cassidy remembers Liam Payne on his 33rd birthday

Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy has paid an emotional tribute to the late singer on what would have been his 33rd birthday, reflecting on their relationship and the lasting impact he had on her life.

Cassidy, 27, remembered Payne on Saturday, August 29, nearly two years after his death. Taking to Instagram, the influencer shared a collection of personal photographs featuring herself and the former One Direction star.

“Your birthday will always be your day. Loving you, remembering you, missing you always. Happy birthday Liam,” she wrote alongside the photos.

Cassidy also continued a birthday tradition in Payne’s memory by arranging for someone to blow out candles in his honour. She later shared another post documenting the process of preparing a birthday cake for him and opened up about how difficult it remains to celebrate his birthday without him.

“This would now be year two of Liam not being here to physically celebrate his birthday,” Cassidy said. She reflected on the idea that people can be remembered through the stories and conversations their loved ones continue to share after their passing.

Cassidy made it clear that she intends to keep talking about Payne and preserving his memory.

“I’m never gonna stop talking about him,” she explained, adding that Payne was a major part of her life and helped shape the person she has become.

The influencer also recalled how Payne spent his final birthday before his death. According to Cassidy, the couple went bowling before returning home and enjoying cake together in bed.

For this year’s tribute, Cassidy prepared a white cake decorated with rainbow sprinkles and topped it with Biscoff cookies, which she described as among Payne’s favourites. She also lit a candle and shared a heartfelt message wishing him well in the afterlife.

“Happy birthday, Liam. I hope you are celebrating in heaven today and just know that you are so loved down here,” she wrote.

Kate Cassidy continues to navigate grief

Since Payne’s death, Cassidy has been open about the emotional journey of dealing with grief while trying to continue with her life. Through social media posts, she has repeatedly spoken about the importance of carrying memories and love forward rather than trying to forget someone who has died.

In February 2026, Cassidy shared a message on TikTok encouraging others experiencing grief to understand that moving forward does not necessarily mean leaving the person behind.

“You don’t move on from grief. You move forward with it, carrying love in a different form,” she wrote, encouraging people to continue living their lives while holding on to the memories of those they have lost.

Earlier, in December 2025, Cassidy also addressed the possibility of having another relationship in the future. She explained that anyone she eventually becomes involved with would need to understand the special place Payne continues to hold in her heart.

She said that she would always love Payne and would continue speaking about him, laughing about memories involving him and allowing herself to cry when remembering him.

Payne and Cassidy were romantically linked for around two years before his sudden death in October 2024. Their relationship was frequently followed by fans, and Cassidy has continued to honour their time together publicly since his passing.

Liam Payne’s death

Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31 after suffering a fatal fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

His death shocked fans around the world and prompted an outpouring of tributes from his former bandmates, friends, family members and millions of fans.

As Cassidy marks another birthday without him, her latest tribute shows that she remains determined to keep Payne’s memory alive and celebrate the love and memories they shared.