‘I loved you unconditionally and completely,’ model and influencer wrote in her Instagram Stories
The model and influencer said she’s “at a complete loss” after the 31-year-old died last Wednesday.
She then addressed the One Direction bandmember directly, writing: “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.”
Cassidy had been travelling with Payne in Argentina in the weeks leading up to his death, but had returned to the U.S. two days before he died.
In the hours following the incident, fans combed through Payne’s social media posts searching for insight into his mental state.
In a series of videos shared to his Snapchat on Wednesday, the father of one appeared normal and said he was “having a lovely day” in Argentina with Cassidy.
Cheryl Cole, who is the mother of Payne’s only child, seven-year-old Bear, also issued a statement hitting out at “abhorrent reports” and “media exploitation” of her former partner, who she split with in 2018.
“As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she wrote in a post shared to her Instagram. “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.”
She continued, “What is troubling my spirit the most is that one day Bear will have access to the abhorrent reports and media exploitation we have seen in the past two days. It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in his future. I am begging you to consider what use some of these reports are serving, other than to cause further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces. Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them.”
Cole ended her message by asking people speculating about Payne’s death to give him a “little dignity” and let him “rest in some peace at last.”
“They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk,” the manager named “Esteban” said.
By the time medical personnel arrived, Payne’s body was on the ground outside the hotel with La Nacion reporting that “a bottle of whiskey, a lighter and a cellphone” were also found at the scene.
Guests who were staying at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel detailed Payne’s “disturbing” behaviour in his final hours.
A woman named Rebecca told told the Daily Mail “there was something a bit desperate about him” when she encountered Payne.
Payne reportedly “smashed his laptop, and had to be carried back to his room.”
As police aim to pull together a timeline of Payne’s final hours, they interviewed two women who were with the singer earlier in the day.
“Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically,” the insider claimed.
Payne released the EP First Time in 2018, and his 18-song studio album, LP1, the following year.
“It’s difficult when you have the level of fame that we had in the band,” he said at the time. “There have been a lot of people in trouble with mental health that aren’t really getting the help that they need, and I think that’s a bit of a problem in our industry,” he told the outlet. “It’s the same s— that happens to everyone, that’s been happening since the ‘70s.”