Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy has come under fire after joking that she "needs a man" in a recent TikTok video, just days before the first anniversary of the former One Direction star's death.
The model, 25, joined a viral social media trend where one person tries to lift another off the ground using only one arm.
In her video, Cassidy's friend attempts the challenge but drops her almost instantly, sending her crashing to the floor. Laughing off the failed attempt, she captioned the clip: "Okay, maybe I do need a man."
While clearly intended as a joke, the light-hearted post divided opinion online. Some fans felt it was poorly timed given the upcoming anniversary of Payne's death on October 16, when he will be remembered one year after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Strip That Down hit-maker, who left behind a young son, was 31 when he passed.
One person wrote: "Doing and saying this five days before the one-year anniversary of his passing is wild."
Another commented: "Stop posting about him -- it's so messed up that one moment you're sad about Liam and the next you're saying you need a man."
However, the majority of users rushed to defend Cassidy, reminding critics that grief looks different for everyone. "She's always going to grieve Liam's loss," one person said. "But she's entitled to live her life and move forward. It's her journey, not yours."
Another supportive fan added: "You're beautiful and strong, Kate. Hearing you talk about your grief helps so many people who go through the same battles every day."
Others simply saw the funny side, insisting Payne himself would have found the clip amusing. "You and Liam would have smashed this trend," one user wrote, while another said: "I just know Liam is laughing at this in heaven."
Cassidy, who dated Payne for more than a year before his death, has continued to share tributes and memories of the singer online.
Earlier this month, she addressed criticism of fan-made AI images showing the couple together, telling followers to "stop judging people for how they grieve."