I can't say to what extent, but they definitely discuss it with their management. These stunts don’t just happen because management forces them, like some strict script they have to follow. There’s a strategy behind rolling out PR moves like this and there is an ultimate GOAL. And since they’re the main people involved, they at least have to try to make it believable (even if that’s not always how it turns out lol).

And this isn’t just about Larry—it applies to anyone in the entertainment industry using fauxmances for promo, bearding for closeted artists, and so on.

Read more here.

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This is just an extra explanation as an observer (from the GP) of Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet album rollout. I’m not really in the fandom, but I’ve listened to her music enough to notice patterns.

Ngl, I adore her, and I was intrigued by her supposed relationship with Barry. But after seeing how the timeline played out—along with the album’s theme, the promo, and then the deluxe release—it really felt like a well-crafted setup for the album drop lol

That being said, the album itself is fantastic. It’s THE perfect summer 2024 pop album for me. There’s so much raw emotion in many of the tracks, but I can’t help but feel like Espresso, Please Please Please, Bed Chem, and Juno were intentionally set up to be the highlights/singles, with the whole Sabrina-Barry narrative built around them. Even the music videos aligned so well—almost like they knew he’d “embarrass” her (iykyk), and they played right into it.

If this is indeed the case, it’s a perfect example of a well-thought-out PR plan that both parties agreed to.

Grain of salt, though—I don’t know much about them, and I was 100% convinced they were actually together until everything started unfolding. Sabrina went on tour > the cheating scandal happened > more touring > the Grammys > and finally, the deluxe release with the Please Please Please MV continuation featuring Dolly Parton, where they literally killed off Barry’s character lol

Exactly!!

Everything being publicly printed about Rob and/or Kristen makes zero sense after all the years they swore up and down they'd NEVER sell their privacy. No one ever does a 180 like that out of nowhere, but they allegedly did? And for what reason? 🤷‍♀️

Is she actually there, or just making people think she is by using old photos? Either way, I don't really care. I just wish she'd leave the man alone.

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I was just re-reading some articles from ye olden days centering around the fledgling fauxmances of Jensen & Danneel + Jared & Gen (mainly Jensen & Danneel this time around), and I highly recommend it for the sheer number of times you’ll come across phrases like “Jensen and Danneel were very secretive about their publicly unknown romantic relationship,” and “while it’s unclear exactly how their long platonic relationship turned into romance...” etc. etc.

Meanwhile one of the first links to pop up when I was searching for Jared and Gen dating articles was Speak the Truth LOL (which is a very well-traveled tinhat site just in case anyone wasn’t aware).

And I’m sure we all remember Buddy TV calling Jared + Gen/Sam + Ruby “one of the most confusing TV hookups of all time,” stating that “rarely has an actual couple had less on-screen chemistry.”

And there was Ted Casablanca being all like pssshhhhh, NO!! “Jared and Jensen would sooner marry each other than who they’re currently rumored to be getting hitched to.”

And I can’t not include a few of these headlines (about the highly suspicious twin engagements/weddings):

“Fellow star Jensen Ackles announced he was also engaged. Something in the air?”

And-

“2010 is becoming the year of CW weddings! Jensen Ackles has followed in the footsteps of Supernatural costar Jared Padalecki, who was married on February 27th.”

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Jared (on his and Jensen’s marriages fauxmances and how wonderful it’s been): “Has it??”

Um...I mean...uhh...

“-it’s been wonderful...”

John Travola and Kelly Preston were, imo.

On the fence about Hugh Jackman. Lots of rumours about him and his marriage. Some think it’s bearding.

I strongly feel Beyoncé and Jay Z are.

I’ve heard Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s marriage was open, but I don’t know if that makes it a fauxmance or not.

I'd say they're naïve and probably think talent gets you famous. That's a cute, idealized thought, but not at all reality.

I'd also point them to people like Cara Delevingne and Kristen Stewart for modern context, and Elton John for historical, in terms of "bearding".

As for PRships in general, I'd point out people like Pete Davidson, whom no one cared about before dating Ariana, and Hailey Baldwin, who was a nobody with a famous name before she started hooking up with Justin Bieber.

A range of other examples of showmances, and all of these are well-known to be fake, or one or more parties have even admitted to it being fake:

MJ and Lisa Marie Presley;

Blake Lively and Penn Badgley;

Steve-O and Nicole Richie;

Kaley Cuoco and Henry Cavill;

Lil Xan and Noah Cyrus:

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (but for $cio's own version of PR).