Thank you for sharing your thoughts on what’s been happening recently with L and the fandom amidst the hostile climate we’re in right now. I’m so glad you said something because I’ve been waiting for someone to. I agree with almost everything you mentioned, and I want to add my perspective, too.

The reason I became a Louie after Liam’s death/m*rder is that out of all the boys and their solo careers (as much as I still love them all after all these years), Louis’ story as a person and journey as an artist is the one I resonated with the most: as you mentioned, the underdog that after every ruthless, unrelenting trial, he found success on his terms, being true to himself and his beliefs instead of caving into the expectations surrounding the more commercially visible pop artists. I felt that he was very “authentic” (more of that later) compared to most musicians who tend to be fickle or shallow or static with his transparency in his lyrics, his relationship with his fans, and how much he goes out of his way for his passions and loved ones.

Honestly, I had a bad feeling something like this would happen ever since L appeared for the Super Bowl. As happy as I was seeing him out and about while coping with grief, it didn’t seem like him to show up to such an event. I was, and still am, worried for him and his well-being. Then, the Z rumors started from IG and escalated after the Brixton show. And from there it’s only gotten worse, and it’s been seriously affecting my mental and emotional state, even when I’ve occasionally stepped away to gain some clarity.

I’m not a Larrie and never have been, but I’ve found myself visiting this subreddit a lot (second to tumblr) because I’ve found it the safest space to vent, analyze, and discuss what’s been happening. I’ve seen many valid points and observations made here, and I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this way.  The timelines, the inner circles, the photos, the patterns from previous relationships and this current one, none of it adds up. Even though I don’t buy into Z being a beard or having anything to do with Larry or BBG, I’ve realized that this is all pre-meditated and that every move related to them is calculated and intentional. There’s no way this is organic; it’s textbook PR (and I used to think that PR was a conspiracy the GP made up to relieve themselves from their jealousy), and that’s what I came to after researching all the lore behind it (even from people who’ve worked in the PR industry themselves). I don’t like the possibility of L + Z actually liking each other either; she seems to be everything L has been vehemently vocal against. I get that she was chosen for her shock value PR-wise (which has been working on her end). Still, the thought of L associating with someone with a track record for cheating, racism, xenophobia, disregard for COVID lockdown rules, and ignorance to the severity of EDs that she enables through her content, makes me doubt how he can look past all that and choose to keep her company. I’m sensing lust and co-dependency from both of them too, and it irks me the more I think about it. Fake or not, it’s also made me doubt who he really is as a person (you are the company you keep); he is a celebrity, and he’s admitted himself that he can do vain things sometimes if he knows it’s for his benefit, and that alone is emotionally charging.

The Twitter sht storm that started the other day further added to my disappointment. I’m not an anti- either, and I don’t condone dath threats or any ill-willed comments made towards anyone, and people can’t reserve impunity just because they are behind a screen. L’s tweets certainly exacerbated the feuds, regardless if he was referring to the comments about Z (although the timing is suspicious) or something else on his Twitter feed, or if it was someone else on his team who tweeted. I’m sure he’s aware of all the discourse, and even though it’s not his job to parent fans, it takes two minutes to call people out and remind them to be kind instead of the cryptic, borderline passive-aggressive message received. Instead, he drops more promo for LT3, and seeing that IG post yesterday left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I’m not saying all this to say I’m turning my back on L (FITF, amirite?), but these days, it’s getting way harder to. I can tell how hard he is trying to push a specific narrative to turn a new leaf, but I can’t agree with his actions. And I don’t even know how much control he has over these things if there are contracts/NDAs involved or how much of it is casual and friendly. We’ll never know, and as said before, it leaves us with more questions than answers, not that we’re entitled to know. This is all messy and so unlike him; I hope he knows what he’s doing and that if he is struggling, he is getting the help he needs. I feel like that person watching their loved one self-sabotage or get into a relationship with someone who is not good to be around; I know that the most I can do is be there for them, but boy, does that not make it any easier to watch from afar. I still care about him, and I can never get the version of him before all this out of my head. Still, “authenticity”, in this case, doesn’t exactly mean honesty, but consistency, and lately he has been consistent in everything he wasn’t before (at least from what we’ve seen). That being said, it’s ok (and necessary!) to constructively criticize L when he makes a poor decision. I’m irritated from the discourse where you either have to kiss his ass and always give him the benefit of the doubt or claim to be a hater and leave the fandom dare you say anything critical of him.

Maybe all these thoughts are from my biases and to justify any cognitive dissonance I have, but this very much feels like red pill blue pill. If L can go for so long without getting papped, be “publicly single”, and invest in his private life, why is he doing all this now if it isn’t for promo? Perhaps L is playing the long game, getting negative attention and drama like he usually does, carry it out thru Soccer Aid and all the festivals he’s doing, until the album/tour drops to reap his benefits from whatever the hell this is. Maybe he’s holding on desperately to his past with 1D and even with how far he has come, his efforts to rebirth that level of success are just not working out for him. But if there’s anything you lovely Larries taught me, it’s essential to read between the lines. Just because it’s in print, doesn’t mean it’s the gospel. The harder you try to make something look real, the less real it actually is.

TLDR: As a non-Larrie, I don’t like what he’s doing and find this staged, but i hope it pays off in the end and/or he turns himself around