Kate Cassidy and Payne began dating in spring 2022, not long after he was linked to Mawla. They split briefly in May 2023 after less than a year together, but confirmed their reconciliation in February 2024 when they hit a red carpet together. Cassidy was with Payne for the first part of his trip to Argentina, but left two days before he died.

Cheryl Cole broke her silence on the death of her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne, with whom she welcomed son Bear, now 7. "As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time,