#aikk

DISCLAIMER:

This post contains personal opinions and theories based on research I’ve done. Don’t take any of this as a confirmation of anything.

This post’s purpose is not to hate on anyone mentioned here but to share what I’ve found and think about it as a whole.

I’m always up for discussion, while it’s done with respect to me but also about the people we’re talking about.

This isn’t what you think by the name. I just don’t know how to name this. And also, I might add, this might not be an actual essay but it might be pretty fucking long and overall a mess, but bear with me.

Yesterday I got an ask in which the anon told me that Kaykay is now being followed by White Horse Agency, and I was like “I might do some research”, and I did it, leading me to find some things that I thought were interesting and I wanted to share them with you.

Well, as you might know, Crystal has a degree on PR and a Master’s degree on communication. Back in the day (aka 2014), she had her own company called WhiteLabel.Social and it was basically aimed to be like a “bridge” between influencers and brands and make publicity that didn’t look like it. Honestly, I don’t know what’s up with the company. The only info I gathered (since this wasn’t the main focus) was the Linkedin page, which has a link with a website that seems abandoned in my opinion (like, it doesn’t have contact info, it doesn’t show works they’ve done, faqs, or like anything you’d expect from a website that is still working), but linkedin says she’s still working on it, so it might be up, but it also says she’s working as a “Talent manager” for an enterprise called “Untitled Entertainment” since January.

Now, leaving that context aside, and going back to the reason on why I’m doing this is basically because it called my attention that every girl that has been seen with the boys in public or has been “official”, has been related to Crystal somehow. A few examples are Bryana (who is still literally friends with her) and Arzaylea (who was one of her examples in the WhiteLabel website and how they seemed friendly during the sgfg tour, or at least stood together to watch some shows). 

Now, this whole White Horse Agency didn’t surprise me at all, since she and Michael have been featured on it (find waldo) and also, this year, she was photographed for it (2nd photo) --small note here, but I thought it was interesting that her invitation to coachella was sponsored by sugar bear hair and then she was out giving support to james charles lol--, but in my attempt to use Google, I came across this website and this is the reason why I’m writing this whole thing.

The website it’s called influencers(.)co, and it literally tells you that the main idea of the site is to be like a “linkedin for influencers”. Now, before I show you, I want to clarify how it works: the FAQ explains that you sign up by giving the account access to your Instagram, and then you can create a profile showcasing your work and why brands should contact you.

(Source: https://influence.co/go/faq)

Here’s Crystal’s:

(source: https://influence.co/crystalleigh)

What you see here is what I was explaining. The page seems really well-put together. It also shows you the starting price point for a post made by her, but I wanted to share this because what called my attention (and honestly shocked me a little -too new in this fandom for this kind of stuff I guess-) is this:

When you click in “blog”, it shows an article where she shows her home and stuff and then when you go to “other media” everything you find is related to the engagement articles that were made (that were a lot for Michael, to be honest--like why the fuck brides dot com is interested in michael--but I guess that has been discussed). Showing articles that revolve around your engagement like the job you do promoting on Instagram to sell clothes/hotels is just... weird to me, to say at least.

Moving on, I thought “Well, I guess Sierra has one too?”, and yep she has a page too (https://influence.co/sierradeaton), it isn’t as put together as Crystal’s, and I guess she hasn’t updated because she’s still under Essy.

Then I thought, what about Kaykay? Wanna guess? Here’s her profile.

Kaykay and Sierra both have in common as “people who have tagged them” Crystal and her friend Mariah. 

After showing you this, I’d like to go back to what I questioned earlier. It’s just so weird to me that Crystal seems to be friends with the boys’s girlfriends (or supposed girlfriends) when there’s a noticeable distance between she and Ashton, Luke and Calum.

You can actually find photos of Sierra and Crystal that look like ones you’d take with friends (like this one) and there’s this one too, also, don’t forget she defended Sierra on Twitter from all the hate she was getting (like, I log in here and there and still haven’t came across a hater) and also this and this honorable mention out of Sierra’s twitter.

Also, it’s suspicious to me that this photo:

includes the two “actual” gfs being so friendly with Crystal and also the place: a TAO restaurant (why I mention the restaurant? Because Crystal did publicity for it and Michael actually attended an inauguration)

You’re probably at this point like “what’s the fucking point of this essay” and to be honest, at this point I have no fucking idea. But it’s just weird to me. I mean, I can see why they can be friendly since it seems they have Mitchy in common as friends, but still, not to look down on Sierra or Kaykay but I highly doubt they know about websites like influencers(.)co. 

With this post I’m not saying that any relationship is real or fake, but I just want to know if there’s some of you who doesn’t find this weird? Like, something doesn’t fit right here and I can’t pinpoint what it is. How is it that all the girls related to the boys (that we have known of) end up turning into some sort of influencer? or just linked with Crystal and the brands she works with when you see the polite distance between Crystal and the rest of the boys? I know these girls are individuals, but it still feels like Crystal helping them to become an influencer like she did at some point or somehow drags them into stuff related to publicity? Because one thing is being friends even if Crystal doesn’t get along with their partner (because as I said they’re individuals who can take decisions and might have met her first and the dynamics might be different) but other thing is being related to the same brands. I don’t know if I’m explaining properly my point but I hope you can understand.

Did calum just confirm kaykay and ashton or what?

PS: at calum5sos are you alright, bud?? No need to go off like this lol

Hey, so I came across the pictures just now and before anyone thinks this confirms something, let me tell you: it doesn’t. 

Now I’ll break down the article and share my opinions and thoughts on it!

At dailymail: at least you guys tried to make it look casual taking photos of them on the actual café, but when you put those where Ashton is looking at the camera we know it’s a set up.

Also that weird photo of her touching his shoulders it’s just... ??? 

While I believe some people don’t like PDA and stuff, I’ll still remain on the “friends trying something” until Ashton himself confirms they’re 100% dating.

PS: I think the only good thing about the article is the look we got of Ashton’s ear piercing! He looks cool.

When I thought writing about this, I was like ‘that’s so silly’ but then I was like ‘why not’. So here we are lol.

Basically Ashton posted the photos paparazzi took of him with Calum and after that, he posted the photos of him alone and him with Kaykay that were taken like a day or two after the Calum’s ones. I didn’t pay much attention to it because you know, these boys do random stuff sometimes and have their troll-ish humor towards the fandom (and sometimes media).

But when Calum replied, I felt like I had to give a second look to this because Calum is... Calum. He’s active on Twitter when there’s stuff that needs to be publicized (like singles, mv, albums, etc), to like memes or interact with fans. If you don’t count the retweet for the award that “he” did (I say “he” because, if you guys don’t know, celebrities usually have to share their accounts with social media managers that post stuff related to their music, tours, etc), he hadn’t used Twitter for two weeks. So, it obviously caught my eye that he came to hype this meme that Ashton is trying to make out of himself.

Why do I say something’s up?

The fact that they’re joking about the iced coffee so much is making the fandom attention go towards this new *meme* rather than Ashton’s rumored relationship. 

And what conclusion I came to?

Basically I think that the way he posted those photos can have some meaning. Maybe Ashton is trying to show that those photos have the same meaning: he’s out drinking coffee with a friend.

Also, maybe Ashton didn’t want those photos to happen (because we all know he knew he was being photographed because he was looking at the camera in both occasions) so he might be wanting to put the attention away from them by joking about the coffee.

It might also be a way to protect Kaykay from the hate the fandom can throw at her, though at least from what I’ve seen, people on Twitter have been generally nice to her and you know, the inevitable shipping and #goals kind of comments.

I feel like no one really minds “network” while the you do it with the right people. For example, when John Krasinski chose his wife to be in the main role of his debut film as a director no one said anything because it wasn’t weird: she has an established career. She has done many great roles and landed them by herself. You don’t see people going like “emily blunt was just there because she’s john’s wife” you know? No one really questioned it because they both work actively for their careers. And if, let’s put in the scenario where Emily Blunt isn’t that very known and he is, but she’s actively looking for roles and working on smaller films, if he gave her a chance because he thinks she’ll do well and she proves to be worthy of the role, no one would say a thing. Everyone needs a chance at the end of the day.

I totally understand where you’re coming from and I empathize with you because sometimes I feel the same way. Not only because the fandom tends to fuss about anyone near 5SOS and there’s this sort of rejection/shaming if you don’t do that, but also because the boys tend to be extra (though I’d take Calum out of this because the times I have seen him supporting his sister, for example, he’s like really chill and natural about it. He doesn’t push it). 

I agree with you in the fact that those girls haven’t been doing much for people that want to work in outlets where you need people engaged. Hopefully that will change. 

But yes. Sometimes it feels like the boys push them too much. Maybe they have the best intentions and as most of the fandom is like “yasss kween!!” they don’t see why it’s wrong or how it could bother some part of the fandom. I’m sorry you feel this way. If it helps, you can message me anytime and honestly, sometimes I just take a step back from everything related to them or just focus on them, or go and watch old interviews or just listen to the music. I know that dodging the drama in this fandom is like a mission impossible movie, but we can all try to be tom cruise (like, the character. Tom Cruise actually creeps me out a little bit lmao).

I don’t find it weird in the sense that they share groups so I feel like it was normal for them to hang out. What I think is “weird” is that both of them ended up or are rumored to be with one of the boys.

But if I’m honest with you (and this isn’t a fact, this is an opinion) I do get that vibe of “catch them when they fall” from Sierra. I know people talk wonders about her and her relationship with Luke, but something about she and Luke throws me off every single time. Maybe it’s the time they supposedly started dating that could support or explain why I feel like she would be that person or I don’t know, but there’s something off. 

With Kaykay, I don’t know what storyline to follow. If you read blogs like this one, you know there are two ashtons: the one who cheated on bryanna and then went on with someone else and also with kaykay but kept things really in the fwb zone. And the other Ashton who was so hurt by Bryana he’s not really looking into relationships by now. I have two perceptions of her too: the one that was in the fwb zone and wants to be a girlfriend now because maybe she fell for him or I don’t know. And then there’s the other who was friends with him and maybe developed feelings.

And again, this is me theorizing, but hopefully if they’re trying something or if they’re an actual couple, it’s because they decided to and not because Sierra (or anyone, but I feel like Sierra would be like that wingman type of friend) pushed any of them (especially if you follow the narrative of Ashton not wanting/being ready for a relationship) 

I think the only weird thing about Kaykay and Ashton is how long they have been around each other and things didn’t start to happen until last year. 

But also you know life is weird and time is too.