Part 2 of 2:
Let's now take a look at the irrepressibly roguish, Louis Tomlinson. The
youngest of our emasculated OTPs and a classic example of how a management team
tries to control the one they fear the most, relentlessly taking steps to portray that individual
as a reckless, irresponsible lout and a problematic outlier. The primary goal, in Louis’
case, is not only to factionalize a powerful fandom, but to weaken the
perceived leader of that support group. In Louis’ case, the fear is so profound and
palpable that Sony/Syco decided to add the persona of a homophobic a-hole into
the mix with two high profile tweets that have since become fandom lore.
The initial, offensive message was sent from the @Louis_Tomlinson account just six months after One Direction had reached unprecedented success in the
American market; the first UK group to reach #1 with their debut album,
"Up All Night". Amid this music industry achievement, however, the personal rumors about Larry (Louis and Harry being in
a romantic relationship), were continuing to spread out of
control and began to bubble over into popular culture, even seeping into some mainstream publications. With their second album, "Take Me Home" about to be released in less than two months a strong-armed missive from 1DHQ dropped like a sledgehammer and
reverberated throughout the fandom. A shot across the bow of what was to come.
@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
That's
right, the most unapologetically flamboyant and articulate of the group was
being muted through the deafening sounds coming from his officially sanctioned
social media account. Not only did Sony/Syco want Louis to be seen as STRAIGHT
™, but he was to be perceived as someone who would not tolerate anyone implying
otherwise. At worst, Louis Tomlinson was a homophobe. At best, he was
self-closeting. Either way, Louis was being muzzled by a narrative that
contradicted his actions as well as his own words.
But,
don't take my word for it. Just watch this video and see if the man of the hour
looks like someone who is self-hating or uncomfortable with who he is. In other
words, don't allow yourself to be manipulated into seeing something that is not
there.
Two
years later, in November 2014, after Louis was seen wearing a rainbow striped
Apple logo T-shirt outside the X-Factor Studios, a journalist by the name of
Jenn Selby wrote a brief article for the The Independent.
Basically,
the 166-worded item briefly praised Louis for his support of the gay community while specifically mentioning Apple CEO, Tim Cook, who had recently come out. The overall laudatory piece was not only supportive, but actually focused on the recent gender positive comments Harry Styles had made in a videotaped interview, openly implying
that someone being female was not that important in a partner. In fact, other media outlets, besides The Independent, had been covering Harry's remark for days, resulting in a compilation of headlines that hinted at Harry Styles being bisexual. What a perfect opportunity for Sony/Syco to strike once again, using another @Louis_Tomlinson
response to set the "record" straight. The scripted outburst not just defensive, but downright pugnacious in its slash and burn
subtext. Another statement quickly following, designed to anger followers and further undermine
Louis’ support within the 1D fandom:
@JennSelby The fact that you work for such a 'credible' paper and you would talk such rubbish is laughable. I am in fact straight.— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) November 10, 2014
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) November 10, 2014
At
this point, let’s take a sharp turn at Reality Road and remember that just as
recent as this year, Niall Horan reminded everyone that if it wasn’t for Louis
Tomlinson the boys of One Direction would have lost the plot along the way.
Adding, that "he is an unbelievably, important member of One Direction, and we
would have lost it a long time ago if not for him. He held us together.”
And, don’t think for a single moment that Sony/Syco did not also recognize Louis’ power from the beginning. He is talented, smart, strategic and a natural subversive force. A respected Influencer in every possible way. Add in his obvious love for his bandmate, Harry Styles, and one can begin to understand why, of all the One Direction members, he was the person with the target on his back. The one who, in fact, continues to be steeped the deepest in the most outrageous stunts, closeted beyond all reason with a fake baby, and at one time shackled with not one, not two, but three women: Freddie Reign’s supposed “mother”; the daddy cool hiatus “girlfriend”; and the out of the blue return of the original chain around his neck, Eleanor Calder.
The image of the devoted boyfriend, in fact, had been intentional and forged early on as evidenced by the leaked emails from the 2015 Sony hack. Apparently, Louis was such an obvious threat, that even at 19, his marketing strategy, unlike the other four members, included a girlfriend on steroids, even though she was unexceptional in every way.
And,
without a break, the “devoted boyfriend” meme continued throughout most of the
group’s touring years. That is until the emasculating image was instantly
replaced in 2015 with a hard drinking party animal, a reckless and obnoxious
nightlife carouser, just in time to convince everyone that Louis had actual sex
with some random girl from a one night stand to produce a child. What a man.
Got it with one shot. He ain't gay so he must be straight, people. *smirk*
Still,
given this outrageous and oppressively indenturing storyline
of an unplanned son, (and by the way, to this day, Louis has still not taken a
paternity test) the hiatus "girlfriend" vanishes after a one year tour of duty. From out of nowhere, she was immediately replaced with the original 1D beard (can't have Louis single for a minute), just when Louis was
about to promote a new song. That’s right, instead of the focus being on Mr. Tomlinson's
music, here came the even more of a nameless, no career boomerang female who
time and time again inexplicably grabbed the headlines from 2012-2014, instead
of her world famous, hard-working, and talented multi-millionaire "boyfriend".
Some
classic headlines illustrate Louis’ image subordination throughout the years:
·
Meet One Direction Girlfriend Eleanor Calder, the Style
Icon You Didn't Know Existed
·
Louis Tomlinson Is Afraid Eleanor Will Find Another
Boyfriend
·
Eleanor Calder's One Direction boyfriend Louis Tomlinson
celebrates mom Johannah Poulston giving birth to twins 12 Feb 2014
·
Eleanor Calder's boyfriend Louis Tomlinson addressed One
Direction break up and fighting rumors
·
It's Love: Louis Tomlinson Basically Admits His New Song
"Back To You" Is About Eleanor Calder
Ah, yes.
Poor Louis Tomlinson. He’s insecure and unstable. Can’t live without a
girlfriend. One-hundred percent STRAIGHT. Doesn’t have time for you, because
well you know, ELEANOR. Doesn’t have time for Harry because well you know he’s
a homophobic jerk.
The
need to silence Louis is evidently so necessary that even after he just lost
his beloved mother due to an early death from cancer last December,
Sony/Syco ramped up the emasculation and trashing of his image with an
infamous incident, conveniently circulated by way of a viral video. The one where Louis is shown to be involved in an awkward "fight"
with a paparazzo and another woman…wait for it...chivalrously defending his
lady in distress, Eleanor Calder.
Truly this stuff would be hysterically funny, if it weren’t so tragic and utterly transparent. And, just in case no one heard it, there was Louis’ scripted outburst of “my girlfriend,” a nice touch at the end, just in case anyone might have missed who this random woman was that Louis was “defending”. The matching tracksuits also added a certain absurd “authenticity” to the drama as well since everyone knows that this is how loving couples publicly dress, right? Let’s face it, if there was any doubt that Sony/Syco wasn’t behind the farce, the identical attire sealed the deal for me, along with the go-to enabler of the stars, Just Jared’s involvement in the dissemination of the event.
Louis was arrested and booked at a nearby LAPD jail for simple battery."
It
was hardly a surprise when the world was informed the following month that Louis
would not be charged with any crime. Evidently, even Sony/Syco, were unable to pull
actual incarceration off. Perhaps, because their ultimate goal is to continue to torture
Louis for his unwillingness to buckle under their rule, and for who knows what
infractions he has incurred along the way. Obviously, Sony/Syco has a narrative
to sell and that narrative requires Louis to be available and mobile.
Emasculation of one-half of an OTP requires a victim after all and due to
contractual clauses, Louis Tomlinson is most definitely not yet free. The deeper the hole that
is dug, the harder it will be for him to crawl out. No doubt Sony/Syco has spent so much
time trying to destroy the idea of Louis and Harry as a couple that I guess they don’t know the real Louis
Tomlinson. One day, however, the world will find out. There are many ways to disclose that which even Non-Disclosure Agreements cannot silence. And Louis and Harry are master communicators.
Louis and Harry having a little backstage break
collaborated: Methodical Muser and Prairie Girl
pic sources: bluffton, businessinsider
our playlist: Blind My Mind - Flunk
Strong Enough - Sheryl Crowe
You Make Me Strong - 1D
That's How Strong My Love Is - Bryan Ferry
My Weakness - Kris Allen
pic sources: bluffton, businessinsider
our playlist: Blind My Mind - Flunk
Strong Enough - Sheryl Crowe
You Make Me Strong - 1D
That's How Strong My Love Is - Bryan Ferry
My Weakness - Kris Allen
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