It has been nearly a decade since One Direction bid goodbye and announced their indefinite hiatus, but their fans still keep their memories and legacy alive—and that also includes one of the most fascinating conspiracy theories that have ruled the internet: Larry Stylinson.
If you’ve been part of One Direction fandom, or basically just on the internet for the most part from 2010 to 2016, there’s a higher chance that you knew about it.
Larry Stylinson is a portmanteau of the names of One Direction members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. The name had its genesis after Directioners believed that Styles and Tomlinson were in love with each other. And up to this day, the theories continue to circulate.
However, Tomlinson got candid about the “Larry” rumors and expressed his frustration with the decade-long romance conspiracy theories.
“What I realized a few years ago is that there is nothing I can say,” Tomlinson said in a recent interview with Brazilian outlet G1. There is nothing I can do to stop those who believe in this conspiracy. They are so connected to what they believe that they will not see the truth for what it really is.”
The “Walls” singer then added that while many people found these “little conspiracies” interesting, it did, however, irritate him as some fans were taking these rumors too far which affected his personal life.
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t irritate me a little, but it’s the nature of the job,” Tomlinson explained. “There are times when it gets very personal. I have my son, Freddie. He is the most important person in my life. And occasionally, [these theories] end up addressing things that are a bit unfair.”
“This is what we have now. There’s nothing I can do about it. [There’s] nothing I can say to stop people from inventing what they want to invent. So, so be it,” added Tomlinson.
This wasn’t the first time Tomlinson had spoken about the Larry conspiracy theories. In 2012, the 32-year-old singer addressed the speculations, calling it “bullsh*t.”
“Larry is the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard. I’m happy, why can’t you accept that,” Tomlinson said in a tweet.
@skyleridk Hows this , Larry is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard. I'm happy why can't you accept that.
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) September 16, 2012
The former One Direction member also reportedly blocked the word “Larry” on his Instagram account, causing fans to comment with different variations and spellings of the ship name, including #FreeLarry.
The rumors had also caused former bandmate Zayn Malik to speak and defend the pair after his exit from the band as the rumors got out of hand at the time.
“There’s no secret relationships going on with any of the band members,” he told the Fader magazine in 2015, saying how those rumors made it hard for the pair to work together.
“It’s not funny […] They won’t naturally go put their arm around each other because they’re conscious of this thing that’s going on, which is not even true. They won’t do that natural behavior,” he added.
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