Kate Cassidy Says She Is Ready to Date Again 18 Months After Liam Payne's Death

Kate Cassidy has said she is ready to start dating again, roughly 18 months after the death of her longtime partner Liam Payne. In a recent social media video, Cassidy spoke openly about grief, love after loss, and her hope for a family in the future — while making clear that her love for Payne will never change.

The Details

Cassidy, who was with Payne for about two years before his death, addressed the subject directly in a video posted to social media. 'I am ready to start dating again,' she said, according to People. The statement comes approximately 18 months after Payne died in October 2024 at age 31.

The video touched on themes of grief and what moving forward looks like after losing someone. 'I think that love after loss is a big chapter within your grief journey and I don't know how that's gonna feel,' Cassidy said, per People. She did not describe the transition as simple or resolved — rather, she framed it as part of a longer emotional process she is still navigating.

Cassidy also addressed her reasons for taking this step, citing her desire for a family. 'I want to have kids one day. I want to have a family, and I know Liam would want that for me,' she said, according to People. That framing — invoking what Payne himself would have wanted — ran throughout her public statement.

On the question of whether a new relationship would diminish what she shared with Payne, Cassidy was direct. 'That will never change, no matter who I meet and who comes into my life,' she said, as reported by Us Weekly. The statement echoes a position she has maintained publicly: that any future partner would need to accept that her love for Payne remains.

Us Weekly separately reported that Cassidy had been getting ready for a first date and said she was willing to give someone a chance. That reporting carries medium confidence, per the research brief, and was not part of Cassidy's direct social media video statement.

Context

Liam Payne, the British singer known for his time in One Direction, died in October 2024 at age 31 after a fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to People and Us Weekly. His death drew an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow artists worldwide.

Cassidy and Payne had been together for approximately two years before his passing, according to both People and Us Weekly. In the months since, Cassidy has spoken publicly and repeatedly about the grief process, posting about her experience on social media and addressing questions about her life going forward. She has previously stated that she will always love Payne and that any future relationship would coexist with — not replace — that love, according to reporting by NZCity.

The public conversation around love after loss is one Cassidy has engaged with on her own terms and on her own timeline. Her recent video represents the most explicit statement she has made about being ready to move forward, while maintaining the same framing she has used throughout: that loving Payne and building a new life are not mutually exclusive.

What's Next

Cassidy has not announced any specific plans or identified anyone she is dating. Based on available reporting from People and Us Weekly, her recent statements are personal reflections rather than news of a confirmed relationship.

Cassidy has continued to post publicly about her grief journey. Her social media presence remains the primary venue through which she has shared updates on this subject, and further statements, if any, are expected to come through that channel.