Is removing tattoos the ultimate way to honor a late love, or is Kate Cassidy taking things a little too far? The 27-year-old influencer is facing some serious side-eye from the internet after announcing she’s lasering off ink in memory of her boyfriend, Liam Payne—and honestly, we’re living for the drama.
On Wednesday, July 29, Cassidy took to TikTok to address the haters who were already coming for her decision. “I knew that some of you guys would be offended at the fact that I decided to laser off these tattoos on my body,” she said in the video, clearly anticipating the backlash. And let’s be real—she was absolutely right to prepare for the storm.
The One Direction alum’s girlfriend explained that she wanted to remove certain tattoos as a personal tribute to their relationship and her grief. While her intentions might be pure, the internet wasn’t exactly ready to celebrate the decision. Some fans thought it was sweet, while others immediately jumped into the comments section questioning whether this was healthy processing or something that might feel regrettable down the road.
“Grief looks different on everyone,” Cassidy continued, seemingly trying to shut down the criticism before it could fully take off. But we all know how that works on social media—once the discourse starts, it’s practically unstoppable.
The timing of this revelation has people talking, especially given the emotional weight of everything Cassidy has been through recently. She’s been pretty open about her relationship with Payne and the impact his death has had on her life. Some fans are calling her tribute beautiful and cathartic, while skeptics are worried she might regret permanently altering her body in the throes of grief.
What’s particularly spicy about this whole situation is that it’s reignited conversations about whether dramatic physical changes are the healthiest way to process loss. Therapists everywhere are probably shaking their heads, but also, who are we to judge someone’s coping mechanisms?
Cassidy’s transparency about knowing people would judge her decision shows she’s at least self-aware about the potential backlash. Whether you think her tattoo removal is a beautiful memorial or a decision she might second-guess in a few years, one thing’s for sure: the girl is giving us content and conversation.
What do you think? A) Kate’s tattoo removal is a beautiful and personal tribute to Liam B) She should wait longer before making permanent changes during grief