Liam Payne's 'Erratic Behavior Started Ramping Up' After His Girlfriend Left Argentina Before His Death: Source (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Liam Payne in 2023; Liam Payne PEOPLE cover, Nov. 4, 2024.

Liam Payne’s"erratic behavior started ramping up" whenKate Cassidyleft their vacationahead of his death on Wednesday, Oct. 16, according to a source close to the late singer’s girlfriend.

“Like you could see from the Snapchat videos, he was a different person around her,” the insider tells PEOPLE of theOne Directionalum, who died at age 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy in London in 2022.Darren Gerrish/Getty

Darren Gerrish/Getty

In aTikTok shared Oct. 6, Henry, 23, author of the novelLooking Forward, claimed her ex — whom she doesn’t name in the book but associates with “One Direction fans” — was continuing to “blow up” her phone.

Last week, she also issued a cease-and-desist order to Payne after she claimed he repeatedly contacted her, per theDaily Mail.

Payne was first spotted with Cassidy in October 2022. While the pair largely kept their relationship quiet at the time, Cassidy shared snippets of her and Payne’s romance through red carpet photos to casual selfies.

CasaSur hotel in Buenos, Aires, Argentina.Police gathering outside the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following Liam Payne’s death.Geoff Payne, the father of Liam Payne, visiting the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following his death.CasaSur hotel in Buenos, Aires, Argentina.PHOTO:Luis ROBAYO / AFP/ GettyPolice gathering outside the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following Liam Payne’s death.PHOTO:Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via GettyGeoff Payne, the father of Liam Payne, visiting the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following his death.PHOTO:Natacha Pisarenko/AP

CasaSur hotel in Buenos, Aires, Argentina.Police gathering outside the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following Liam Payne’s death.Geoff Payne, the father of Liam Payne, visiting the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following his death.

CasaSur hotel in Buenos, Aires, Argentina.

Police gathering outside the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following Liam Payne’s death.

Geoff Payne, the father of Liam Payne, visiting the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following his death.

CasaSur hotel in Buenos, Aires, Argentina.PHOTO:Luis ROBAYO / AFP/ GettyPolice gathering outside the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following Liam Payne’s death.PHOTO:Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via GettyGeoff Payne, the father of Liam Payne, visiting the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following his death.PHOTO:Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Luis ROBAYO / AFP/ Getty

Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty

Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Sources toldABC NewsPayne had several drugs in his body, including “pink cocaine,” at the time of his death. A partial autopsy revealed he “had multiple substances in his system” when he fell to his death.

“Pink cocaine” is a recreational drug generally including a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA — and not necessarily cocaine — according to theNational Capital Poison Center.The sources also told ABC News “an improvised aluminum pipe” was used to ingest drugs was found in Payne’s hotel room.

Per the report, the British musician’s body will remain in Argentina until the autopsy is completed.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Liam Payne PEOPLE tribute cover (Nov. 4, 2024 issue).

Buenos Aires police foundLiam Payne’s hotel room “in total disorder” after the singer’s death. Minutes before thebalcony fall, hotel staff alerted emergency services, reporting in a 911 call that the singerhad been “trashing the room,”officials said.

According to apreliminary autopsy report,the “Teardrops” singer died from multiple injuries and “internal and external” hemorrhages, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE.

For more on Liam Payne, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

source: people.com