#louis image

and that’s the whole issue, isn’t it? so many jumped straight to outrage without actually watching or listening. i don’t even tend to sit through celebrity podcasts, because they usually all sound the same. early life, struggles, the usual. but this one felt different. louis was thoughtful, articulate, and so aware of himself. yes, there’s an obvious narrative he has to maintain (that’s just part of promo), but beyond that, it was one of the most honest, gentle interviews i’ve seen from him.

i still think the podcast was aimed more toward newer fans rather than those of us who’ve been here a while — a sort of reintroduction. and i do believe certain omissions (like avoiding mentions of harry or anything that could lead people toward larry) were intentional choices by lthq to shape perception. but louis handled it brilliantly. he navigated it with so much grace.

And I don't blame them because Harry's public image has been pushed very hard, especially with dwd and that stunt with the director. But If you really pay attention to the details, it’s pretty clear that Harry isn’t fully free. He’s just doing what he can, playing the game with everything he’s learned along the way.

I’m sure he’s negotiated as much freedom as possible over time, and what we see is a gradual result of that. I really hope in this next chapter, with all the leverage he’s gained, he’s been able to secure even more freedom.

I honestly just wish the best for both H and L.

yes exactly. you put it so well — that’s the thing about public perception. in order to see H & L the way that some people do, you have to be willing to accept a version of events that genuinely doesn’t make sense unless you ignore… well, everything.

to believe that version, you have to believe that:

harry was a womanizer from the very beginning. that he dated half the girls at bootcamp and then moved on to older, high-profile women who just happened to boost his image (taylor, kendall, olivia). that he’s a commitment-phobe who’s never had a long-term relationship. that he leans into queercoding and wears obviously queer clothing just to sell albums — even when he doesn’t know he’ll be photographed. that he writes intimate songs about home, about loving the same person through every season of life — despite having no personal experience with any of that. and that he deliberately distanced himself from the other boys in the band — especially louis — because he thought he was better than them.

louis, meanwhile, apparently changed his entire personality between 2011 and 2013 for no reason. that he got angry at a magazine for implying he supports LGBTQ+ rights. that he got a triangle on his achilles heel because he just… liked the shape. that he wears t-shirts and brands with overt queer symbolism (Tchaikovsky, All Out, Only the Brave, Maison Margiela) without realizing or caring what they mean — even though he loves fashion. that he used to call himself “camp” and “flamboyant” all the time, but only as a joke. and that he had a long-term girlfriend during the band, which is clearly why no fans ever had a shot — not because he was gay.

and that’s just the surface level stuff.

the more you pay attention, the worse it gets.

you have to eat a lot of narrative gymnastics to believe that version. honestly? in some cases, you have to make more illogical leaps than even the most unhinged larries do. you have to completely discredit every contestant who’s ever spoken out about x factor. every person who’s criticized modest management. every lyric change — like: “women just don’t feel right”, “i’m hoping someday i could be open”, “i can’t compete with my boyfriend”, "hopelessly devoted to Lou", etc. — has to be chalked up to coincidence or queerbaiting or… misheard. and you have to believe that none of it means anything — even when it obviously does.

i’ll always go back to the metaphor harry gave us in the As It Was music video — the red pill and the blue pill. just like in The Matrix: the red pill means you wake up and see the truth. the blue pill means you stay in a comfortable illusion.

so many people would rather take the blue pill. and honestly? i don’t blame them. it’s easier. it’s lighter. it doesn’t force you to confront how corrupt the industry is. how normal homophobia still is. how much trauma they endured. to accept that kind of truth — especially about people you love — takes a toll.

because once you see it, you can’t unsee it. you’ll always question the narrative. you’ll always feel that unease when something doesn’t add up. you’ll always see through the bullshit.

and yeah — sometimes I wish i could close my eyes too. especially in this world, in this moment, where everything is already so heavy. but i can’t.

so we keep paying attention. we keep listening between the lines. we keep hoping the next chapter brings them more peace, more truth, and more freedom.

Well as someone who’s been kind of on and off since the 1D days and has gotten more involved again in recent years, it looks like newer fans are becoming less tolerant towards this crap. If that’s the case, I just wanna say that I don’t think it’s “weak” to get fed up, express your frustration or even leave the fandom altogether after being mistreated and disrespected. LTHQ and possibly even Louis himself probably assume they can keep pushing the limits because everyone will stick around no matter what and I’m so glad they’re being proven wrong. Fans actually have boundaries now, their support isn’t unconditional anymore and it’s so refreshing to see. Veterans who survived the trenches are incredibly important and so are the newbies who refuse to be humiliated like this. Time to wrap it up LTHQ, times are changing and the clock is ticking.

Hi, anon!

As a veteran, there are three major and significant differences between then and now.

1. Trust - We used to trust they had their own and our best interest at heart. We trusted them to not hurt us, or at least warn us of the hurt they were about to cause us, which they did. There is no trust anymore.

2. Purpose - every stunt made sense, even if we didn’t agree with it, every move they made had a purpose and a goal. Everything they did was to further their career and gain more freedom. It worked.

3. Balance - they used to balance the shit with good. For every stunt outing, we got H and L flirting. After every denial or social media lashing out, we got proof of larry being real. The good times equaled the bad times. Now the good times are far in between, and the bad is really bad. EC looks like an angel compared to ZMcD.

Even if we've been through things before, circumstances are different now. The same old tricks isn't working anymore. There are less rewards and no time to enjoy it before getting crapped on again.

And despite having seen almost everything before, it wears you down. No positive changes in their circumstances or no hope for better days is killing fandom.

Most American magazines like People etc publish pieces written and paid for by PR - its 50 Most Beautiful for example. It’s a major part of a PR’s job (and why so many ex-journalists go into that field).

A large number of smaller magazines piece together parts of other interviews to make new pieces. As long as the original is referenced once this isn’t plagiarism. It’s a common practice and frequently distorts the meaning of the original interview.

When a celebrity has given a written interview there is no obligation for the publication to give them final approval, so often what is printed is not exactly what was said.

With television talk shows like Graham Norton and Late Late, a lot of people think they’re live but they’re pre-recorded and edited, again possibly distorting meaning.

So, the only way you can trust that a celebrity actually did say what they ‘said’ is if you see it live at a concert or red carpet. Because they always speak the truth anyway, right? 👀 xx

Such a good reminder. Thank you. In this fandom, we learned very early on not to take what they "say" in a written interview (or on Twitter) as gospel because, more often than not, it wasn't them speaking. And even when they're speaking live, take it with a grain of salt because they're all media-trained within an inch of their lives.

I think that's one of the reasons larries took things like coded clothing and the bears so seriously---it felt like the only way to sense Harry and Louis were actually saying something they wanted us to know.

Whew! This ask was not on my bingo card today lol. I’ll try to answer with as much critical thinking and nuance as I possibly can. <3

Let me preface by saying the following:

If you’re looking for a cut-and-dry reply, I’m afraid I can’t give it to you. I’m a big advocate for gray area; however, I also try not to let bias take control of my discernment. I cannot speak with full confidence on this subject because there is simply so much that I, and the fandom, are ignorant of (not by our own will, but it’s still a fair assessment).

There’s also so much that we could never understand/comprehend. The majority of us are apart of the masses. We are not in the limelight nor have we experienced the claws of celebrity-level closeting. I’m sure, especially dealing with this as young as H & L have, that the level of intrinsic change that had to happen is astronomical. Nobody undergoes/survives this sort of trauma without having to bend their own morals and values/make sacrifices they normally wouldn’t.

Always remember that we are not the victims in this situation. We can make commentary and feel all the emotions, but the repercussions of all of this falls back on Louis. In the end, he’s the one losing the most in this situation. (This is not to say that the sensationalism of conservative politics is not harmful to those affected. I am well aware of why people are upset. I share the same sentiments and concerns. I just don’t want to misplace my anger) ❤️

Onto what you’re actually here for:

I’m hard-pressed to say that he may have some authority in the decision-making process for stunts but not enough that blame (for the result) can be solely placed on him. I think that Louis is given very little control but may have some influence on the direction that a stunt takes him in.

For example, he may be given people that he can choose from, which, therefore, gives him the ability to veto (and possibly select the “lesser evil”)

Or

He may be allowed to make general requests that align with his personal plans. Management then assigns him a girl accordingly. (With their own agenda in mind, too)

Zara, as we know, is very immersed in film/reality tv, so it’s possible that Louis stipulated this aspect of her life to drive forth his own goals (or his sisters’). This is completely removed from her values and merely encompasses her career persona and the connections it brings. I’m speculating here, but it’s likely that he’s not permitted to pick out fine details such as political affiliation.

Essentially, what I am thinking, is that he’s making the best of a shitty situation. Except, he can’t completely contain the backfire.

I know many people have discussed how detrimental this move actually is to him (considering his large Latin American fan base), but I wouldn’t put it past them (management) to lean into the rise of conservatism that is sweeping the major superpowers of the world. I mean, they had no problem painting him as a homophobe. Why wouldn’t they take it a step further and align him with a xenophobe as well?

However, if this is not strategical and it’s just happenstance, I could see this unintentionally being very damaging to his public perception and reputation. It’s hard to say how he would navigate regaining the trust of certain fans. The only thing I can really hope for is that people see past the bs and put their faith in him. Unfortunately, I don’t know that he would ever be allowed to come out with a clear and unambiguous statement that disassociates him from her views.

I repeat: I am speculating. Take my iterations with a grain of salt.

—————————

I end this long-winded reply with a few things to consider:

We have known Louis (in the capacity that we can) for 15 years. In that time, he has proven the type of person that he is. Never has he given me the impression that his heart is full of hatred and bigotry. He has always been the type to stand up for the underdog because he’s been one before. He grew up humbly, and I feel as though those experiences have shaped the way he views the world.

He’s proven himself to be kind and vulnerable with his fans of all nationalities, races, genders, and sexual identities. I feel that a month-long (so far) stunt isn’t enough to convince me that he’s not the very same man he’s always been.

I don’t know the direction that things are headed or the undeniable intentions set for this stunt yet because it’s still so new, so maybe more will be revealed in time, making things clearer. I’m just as lost as everyone else tbh. I’m just putting pieces together where I think they fit best. My best advice is to keep a good and clear head on your shoulders, be critical of the media, and never make firm assumptions with pieces of the puzzle missing.

I hope that this is comprehensive enough for you, anon. I’m so sorry if I rambled or you’re confused with my train-of-thought at any point. Please feel free to send in another ask if you see fit. I understand your frustration, and I’m so sorry that you’ve become disappointed and discouraged. I hope this gives you some peace of mind. At the very least, I hope it gives you something to think about.

Much love,

The concept of the Larrie ‘bad boy' is so childlike and 1950’s - a guy who drinks alcohol and smokes and maybe does weed, and is working class. That’s it. That’s your anti-establishment antihero. In contrast, the ‘ideal artist’ is cookie-cutter perfect with all the correct opinions and all the establishment behaviours, heavily promoted by industry and yet still someone that the fandom must be made to feel is rebellious and radical.

Larries also seem to understand that Louis’ profile in the UK is actually more positive than it’s been for years because he’s normal and non-elitist, as shown by the ‘hero of Glastonbury’ stories, and by his support for young artists and sport, and his genuine response to events like Liam’s death. However, Larries seem to believe that Louis is in fact an AI construct of his team, and every aspect is created. Let’s add 'anarchist' to ‘dad’ and ‘football supporter.’

It’s depressing that 'analyses' of such staggering childishness are taken seriously. And it's why fandom is so easily herded and controlled and why they worship someone as bland, derivative, and deliberately milquetoast as Harry Styles. They’re The Resistance™️ but also shocked by cigarettes and vodka.

They buy the idea that the most bland, mainstream and misogynistic pop music is somehow genre-defying and original, only because industry critics tell them so. But Harry’s fans are so conditioned that they love anything he does - except shaving his head, apparently. In any case, the no-stunts geniuses of the world are easily seduced by the grossest industry PR and gaslighting.

The “PR” and “industry” experts of the current Larrie fandom seem to have absolutely no CLUE what people in the UK consider likable and down-to-earth in a celeb— as opposed to what’s viewed as elitist/ boring/ pretentious/ superior/ greedy. They seem to believe that the only acceptable celeb is a teetotaling reader of elevated books and high culture, with cookie-cutter, performative ideology and definitely not (horror!) working class: like Harry's image (never mind that the real Harry Styles can’t articulate a word of what he reads and his lyrics are a mess of word salads). Maybe the boho guy uses a manual typewriter (one finger at a time, as a hobby) instead of a laptop, and wear pro-feminism tee shirts and ballet skirts on magazine covers to show how fabulously avant garde and therefore intelligent (and not working class!) he is. Basically the Larrie complaint is that Louis is not Harry.

Disclaimer: I don’t think louis is actually like that but I do question why he thinks that’s the right image choice for him.

I am begging him to stop pretending like women don’t know what good music is. We don’t need a white rich man to tell us what to listen to...

this +  - glorifying drugs and alcohol (+ acting like a 15-year-old who’s just discovered weed and alcohol by talking about it all the time as if it makes him look cool) - pretending like pop is bad when most of his album is pop - saying his friends would make fun of him for having a skincare --> having toxic friends, are we supposed to believe he’s like them? - pretending he hates “posh” things - pretending he only eats garbage food - pretending he doesn’t do any sport when he clearly does (he has great body/endurance) - just his whole pickme girl attitude - choosing his worst song as a single and saying it’s for the fans bc he just believes we have no taste in music (the same way he says he needs transitional songs to make his fans used to his new sound as if we only listen to pop) - letting his son be brought up by trump supporters and saying he only cooks cheesy pasta for his sons when he could hire a chef and give him access to healthy meals - being proud of his roots but only bringing his son to the UK two times - never mentioning his girlfriend but writing songs about missing his ex - saying he doesn’t make music for radio or to be mainstream, he just makes real music, but then pushing to get a #1 as soon as he has a chance showing he does care about it all - only working with white men (his album credits, his band, his entourage, his team) - wanting to be “punk” but never being political and taking a very boybandy stance on everything meaning never talking about important topics that would go against the establishment - only supporting white male bands - lying about his luxurious life just to seem relatable which is starting to be insulting to people who actually don’t have lots of money - him dumbing himself down by being cryptic but then saying things like “a wall is a wall” or that there’s no meaning behind anything he does - when asked about a political issue saying he would legalize weed just to appear cool when his home country (who he says he cares about) is going to shit

Hi anon!

Yes. They do seem frozen in time it seems. To me it feels like Louis wants to slowly rid himself of everything that’s not real, so even though Eleanor is easy to maintain and not a pain in the arse to him anymore, you’re right, she’ll want to move on (publicly) soon enough.