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| One Direction on X Factor, Nov 2010 |
November was an eye opening month regarding Louis and Harry's evolution as popular members of a boyband that was rapidly growing in popularity throughout the UK. In terms of raw numbers, Series Seven of the X Factor ended up with an average weekly audience of 14+ million viewers. While the Grand Finale show, which aired between Dec 11-12, brought in an estimated 20 million. As the group grew in popularity and visibility so did Louis and Harry's uninhibited interactions on the show. Constantly seeking out ways to be together while being "handsy" with one another at seemingly every opportunity. From humorous sketches and contestant games like Megamind and Spin the Harry, to gratuitous appearances by Harry in a couple of Quickfire sketches hosted by Louis, there was Harry, happy and eager to join in on the fun and revel in the steadfast, doting attention; inevitably and predictably, Harry ended up being Louis' favorite time and time again. Louis' boy. Regardless of the situation or the setting.
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| One-track mind Louis, lifts Harry up from below the TV camera lens and announces his victory, even though Niall & Matt Cardle were the ones playing the game. LOLLL! |
Somehow in the middle of living their dreams over the last several months, a dose of cold reality penetrated their blissful little world around the fifth week of the competition. The timeline and details about the incident are still murky, even sixteen years later, but deductive reasoning can fill in the blanks pretty handily. On November 5 (Friday), an article appears about a contestant gone missing from the X Factor premises. Explained away with a story that Louis Tomlinson was feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of the competition and decided to return home to clear his head for a few days.
As the media coverage developed around this story, an even more implausible element was introduced. The public version of events was that Louis "forgot" to inform the production
staff of his departure. The problem with that part of the narrative was that Week Five’s Live Show took
place on Saturday (Nov 6), and it doesn't make much sense, given rehearsal schedules,
that he would voluntarily leave for a few days and go home to Doncaster on a Thursday. In other words, whatever happened, had to have occurred
earlier that week. Perhaps even on a Sunday (Halloween), which we have learned since was a favorite holiday for both Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Styles. Back-to-back Paintgates in 2012 and 2013 and subsequent Harryweens, are just a few illustrative examples that come to mind.
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Louis and Harry's body language on Oct 31, 2010 as Harry makes a "1D"
voting appeal after Saturday's Live Week 4 performance |
The other part of the story that is highly suspect was that
Louis never looked "crushed" by any competition pressure, and since he and Harry
were snugly joined at the hip, this alleged willing separation seems
farfetched to say the least. Moreover, this version of events doesn't even
begin to address another piece of information which was circulating around
Nov 4, 2010.
And this may be the biggest smoking gun of all. One Direction typically
filmed their video diaries on a Monday which in this instance, would
have been Nov 1. But for some reason, both Louis and Harry seemed
exceptionally tired that day. So much so that it would have been hard for the production staff not to notice and result in some kind of consequence.
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| Video Diary, Week 5 Nov 1, 2010 |
You touched me goodnight
Butterflied both our bellies
You and me are skipping sleep
With dirty feet
Ready, steady, go
Regardless of whatever took place that week, nothing was stopping Louis and Harry from being in each other's back pockets while continuing to drop hints about the personal nature of their on and off stage relationship. At this point of their involvement, the intimacy was not only physical but observably emotional as well.
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| After The Kids in America performance, Week 5, Nov 6, 2010 |
Two examples provide an excellent window into just how far things had evolved at this juncture in their attachment. Interestingly enough, both instances occurred successively on November 5 and 6 during the week of the "constant same sex action" rumor.
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Niall hosting a contestant-centered "talk show" called, "Question Time" with Louis, which aired on
Nov 5, 2010 |
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| A smiling, delighted Harry |
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| A coy Louis |
A provocative conversation, to say the least, given the juicy gossip that had been circulating that week. But then again, Louis and Harry have always been known for their media awareness and their timely and artful gay-coded messaging.
Then the following day, on Nov 6, the Dream Team are right back to being as physically close and subversive as ever.
LOLLLL! With that TMI (actually not), let's enjoy more visual evidence of how Louis and Harry continued to make their relationship more and more public.
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| Louis and Harry openly embracing outside Fountain Studios, circa Nov 6, 2010 |
By the way, closing one's eyes when being hugged, is not only an indication of deep trust, but emotional intimacy and sensory immersion. Shutting one's eyes allows a person to fully focus on physical sensations (e.g. warmth, touch, scent).
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| One Direction walking down the street, Covent Gardens, Nov 10, 2010 |
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| Louis and Harry walking down the street |
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| Spot the Couple |
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Fountain Studios, Nov 12, 2010 - "I love you, Harry"
 | | Louis is asked who his best friend in the X Factor House is - responds to 5 different accounts |
|
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| Wembley Stadium, 1D went to the England-France match on Nov 17, 2010 |
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| Arm in arm, circa Nov 19, 2010, Fountain Studios |
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| Closey close |
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| Harry still looking at Louis - Louis' arm still looped in Harry's |
And people were noticing,
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| Just four lads out bowling, All Star Lanes Nov 25, 2010 |
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| Just two boyfriends out bowling and holding hands (Note that Louis is wearing Harry's gray hoodie because, when cold, he gets "a bit moody"). Or if the gray hoodie was Louis physically comforting Harry, the chivalrous gesture screams boyfriend. |
November 2010 was indeed an eye-opening month for Louis and
Harry’s origin story and for their rapidly growing fanbase. But there is one
more classic video diary from November that Narnia would be negligent not to
spotlight, and will kick off Part III. Let’s just say that for those who have
been paying attention to Louis and Harry since Glastonbury 2025, there is
little doubt that they are publicly reconnecting with one another in big ways
and small. Most importantly, while this realignment is underway, they want us to come aboard and set sail with them. The time for waiting is over.
From color schemes to song lyrics, to the selection of cover
songs, like “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” to the call and response naming
of their current tours (How Did We Get Here? – Together Together), they are
inviting us to join them on this adventure. That’s what Harry being awarded a
Blue Peter Gold Badge at Wembley on July 4 (famously known as Independence Day in America) was about. Like always, they are talking
with us. Don’t get caught up in the distractions (Signgate) and the strategic trolling still being unleashed on the Larrie fandom by those same forces who determined that they had "to fade it" back in 2016, aka Hiatus from Hell™. The very same operatives who very much, in 2026, still want “to rule the world”. Keep Louis and Harry in that room (The Closet) where the light won't find them.
Sources: Now Magazine, ITV, Tumblr, X, YouTube
Playlist: Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis
Presley
Dancing in the Moonlight - Thin Lizzy
For the First Time – The Script
Hannah - Ray LaMontagne
