Liam Payne's rocky years of romance: a new girlfriend

Liam Payne does not seem to have much luck in love. His relationships have ended abruptly and the singer has confessed to not being the best version of himself in relationships.

That may be about to change, however. The ex-One Direction singer was spotted over the Halloween period with a new beau. The Mirror identifies her as US model, Kate Cassidy. It reveals the 23-year-old may be a little on the 'wild' side.

Photo: @kateecass / Instagram

The Mirror reports that Liam and Kate have a 'blossoming romance' and that, "They are mad about each other". The couple reportedly 'looked smitten' with each other as they left a nightclub in Mayfair, London, after watching a burlesque show.

Could this young lady be the 'one' for Payne after a rollercoaster list of failed romances?

Photo: @kateecass / Instagram

In May 2022 Liam Payne was spotted with singer Aliana Mawla. They were papped at Heathrow airport, arm-in-arm.  Although it was never confirmed they were dating, the pair were looking very comfortable with each other. An inside said to The Sun,  'To say they were boyfriend and girlfriend is far too strong but they were obviously seeing each other."

'They both had fun but it's fizzed out and are now both very much single. There's no bad blood," the insider continued. Another end for another relationship for Liam Payne. Aliana came swiftly after it was confirmed Payne and his on-off fiancee, Maya Henry, had finally split for good - and their relationship was a rollercoaster ride.

Maya and Liam were first linked in 2018 and were already the talk of the town. The couple managed to keep things relatively quiet, though for the first year of their relationship.

In September 2019, Liam Payne posted a photo of the two on Instagram cuddling and writing, “Sometimes I don’t recognise this happy guy... sure glad you brought him back though.”

Payne finally proposed to Henry in August 2020. With quite an exceptional ring. It is said to have been Payne's grandmother's which he had redesigned for Maya. It is an estimated $4 million.

This was a time of happiness for Liam and he was over the moon as things were finally fitting into place for the singer. He said, “We’re just really happy... In the last week, I’ve just had a birthday, my son has gone to school for the first time today, so it seems like a lot of firsts for me, really, actually, which is great.”

But then, in June 2021, Payne's face had been plastered all over the media due to the sudden breakup with the model. And it has to be said, it wasn't a clean, straightforward breakup.

Liam had shared a piece of his heart to his Instagram Stories, saying, "Don't let someone go if you really want to love them even if you have to learn to love them through your own mistakes…

"Let your instinct tell you that you need them and keep them close we are always running out of time... We never gain it.”

He then posted more Insta Stories, saying, "I love you, we calm.” Liam initially tagged Maya in another Instagram story, which simply said her name and a number of praying hand emojis typed after.
Did he make a mistake? They seemed like such a happy couple...

Despite having opened up previously about his mental struggles, he was reportedly on a good path for a while, and was so happy in the relationship with Maya. This happiness seemed to relapse during the lockdown, which played a big role in his decision to break off his engagement to the young model.

Liam spoke with Steven Barlett on the Diary of a CEO podcast and, when asked about the breakup, he responded, "I just wasn't giving a very good version of me anymore, that I didn't appreciate and I didn't like being. I can honestly say I feel better out of it.”

He continued, "I didn't feel good doing what I did but it had to happen. Just a corny way to say it was the best for us both.”

Payne has suffered immensely when the relationships he has had go wrong. He seems to constantly blame himself.
"I feel like more than anything at this point, I'm more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people," Payne admitted, adding, "That annoys me. I've just not been very good at relationships.”

He left a message for Maya Henry in the interview. He wished her well, adding, “I hope she’s happy.”

That's right, after speculations that the couple had indeed gotten back together in September 2021, it had been confirmed - Liam and Maya were back on! And Maya was once again wearing her engagement ring.

Model Maya Henry was seen wearing the huge £3million diamond ring while on a night out in London, after she had left it off her finger since Liam called off their engagement the previous June. She had been seen leaving Mayfair’s Amazonico after having dinner.

The first time the public got a glimpse of reconciliation with her fiancée was when Maya posted a photo on Instagram with the huge rock back securely on her finger. Things definitely seemed to be looking up for the both of them - but, as we know, it wouldn't last forever and, in May 2022, the singer’s rep confirmed to J-14 that “they have split up.” Another to add to Payne's failed relationships.

Payne also had another high-profile split with his ex before he met Maya Henry. His previous relationship with X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, had ended in June 2018.

Liam and Cheryl's son is now 3 years old and spends time with both parents. It is one of the main causes of concern for Liam as he struggles with the huge overwhelming love and responsibility of being a parent. Liam said to Ant Middleton when he joined him on his interview series, 'Straight Talking': "I get lonely if I can’t see Bear for a few days... Uncertainty is a big thing in my life, I don’t know how long it will last."

Liam constantly wonders in his mind if he is doing the right thing. "Being away from your child out of choice and no choice is difficult to barter with in your head. You know why you’re doing what you’re doing but you wonder what you’re missing out on."

Liam admitted that he has to be really careful and private with Bear. Of course, this will ultimately shelter the child from danger but also come with a high cost of missing out on the good times.
'It’s a risk for anyone to see what he looks like. I haven’t even seen my kid go down a slide yet!’

Liam remembers when him and Cheryl first got together: 'I went to Simon’s house, and made a joke about how hot Cheryl was. Simon was like, "I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!"
'Then I was in a bar and Niall [Horan] came in and told me that Cheryl liked me. I was like "Cheryl? Cheryl?" Niall was in Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she went red and left. So I hit her up.’

'Both of us struggled under the pressure – working away a lot, a lot of noise being shouted at us about it, having a child in the mix, we grew apart,' he explained. 'I was worried I would not be enough to look after the both of them.'

Asked if they'll ever get back together, Liam joked: 'If she plays her cards right!' He then immediately added, 'I’m going to get a slap!’

'As much as we’re not together, she is one of the most important people - if not the most important person - in my life. Even though we’re not together, Cheryl is always there for me, she understands what I’m going through,' Payne continued explaining in the interview.

"I hope she’s happy, she deserves it, she’s a great mum, she works hard, she deserves to find happiness. I have thought long and hard about [her moving on with someone else]. We will find our own peace with it, for now, it’s good. I go over, do whatever, watch TV, it’s good, it’s nice."

During the filmed interview, Ant jumped on another possible interest in his love life - asking Liam about his reported fling with supermodel Naomi Campbell, who, at 49, is 23 years older than him.
'She was just a friend… a pal… an old buddy, an old pal…' Liam said, coyly.

But why such bad luck in love? Payne was part of an incredibly successful boy band but the singer struggled being famous and took it hard when the band ended, possibly having an extreme effect on his mental health and coping with relationships.

It was in August 2015 that One Direction announced they would be taking a 'hiatus' to focus on other projects. Liam Payne was thrust into the spotlight when he joined One Direction at just 14. He auditioned for the X Factor but was told to come back a few years later. Which he did. He joined the Cowell-made group and became a member of one of the world's biggest boy bands ever.

Fame at such an early age has taken its toll on many young stars and Liam Payne is no exception. He has not only struggled with relationships, but also the instant rise to fame as well as the dynamics within the band.

Despite the struggles he had with fame and dynamic within the band, it was hard for Payne, when the band came to an end. But he was optimistic this might not be the end: 'I think we’ll get back together,' Liam admitted in the interview with Ant Middleton. 'But it’s not on me. I am at peace with it. A few people haven’t made peace with it yet and are chasing different dreams.’

It was indeed a sad end for the band and a sad moment for Liam, saying, "It all got a little bit weird as it all finished. When we split, that was like getting to know the feeling of growing up. That was my childhood."

Zayne said that he was 'still probably the closest to Liam.' Zayne Malik had told NME: "He congratulated me on my single, which was nice. I congratulated him on his Brit Award. It was a good chat. We haven't met up in a long time so we want to meet up."

It seemed he was the only one who responded to Payne's tweet about saying goodbye to the band. Zayne's response was a simple "thanks bro", but the love was there.

Photo: Twitter @liampayne

Liam Payne has struggled to love himself and revealed to Ant Middleton in 2019 that he has battled suicidal thoughts and that he's 'lucky to still be here’.

'I can’t go too deep into it, I haven’t made my peace with it...' he said.

Photo: Sky

When he was new to the band, Payne recalls one moment when he'd been trying to enjoy some quality time with his mother and father, Geoff and Karen, when he realised he really "hated" his life.
Followed by paps everywhere he went, he was at a meal in a restaurant when a cameraman accidentally bumped into his mother and accidentally pushed her over. "I cried my eyes out. I thought, 'I can't do this'."

When asked about how he coped, Liam said: 'I’ve been in a bad place… it’s (taking his own life) been on the menu a couple of times in my life. Luckily I had great people around me. When things start to pile up on you it can get you, and you can only control you. You have to get on with it."

“I was drinking too much and getting into really bad, bad situations for quite some time actually,” Payne said, clearly emphasising that this was not a fleeting feeling, and his demons had stayed around for rather a long while.

“And I hit a peak moment where I knew the drinking was going to get me; I needed to do something about it. I spent a lot of time drinking to escape the crazy world that I had created for myself.”

Trying to get himself better, he opted for therapy and in his first session, Payne recalled being asked what he enjoyed doing and what he liked about himself. He was unable to answer either question. Let's hope a year of successful music and a new beau on his arm, he can finally give an answer.