Much anticipation was in the air when it was announced that Liam Payne would be on the cover of Attitude Magazine, the UK’s biggest gay magazine. Fans were excited for the interview, hoping that Liam would show his massive support towards the LGBTQIA+ community. This community makes up a substantial amount of One Direction’s fanbase, and has felt shunned as of late. We can’t deny how positively gorgeous he looks, but the spotlight isn’t shining on his good looks this time. After reading the snippet of the interview, fans were more than a little disappointed.
Liam addressed the homophobic issue that has been circling around him lately. Insisting that he isn’t a homophobe, he stated that he has many gay friends. However, he did not express his support for his gay fans and did not address them whatsoever in the interview, something that the fans criticised.
The article then took a surprising turn away from Liam and towards the rumours and conspiracies about “Larry Stylinson”, a belief in the secret relationship between Liam’s fellow bandmates Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles. He had a lot to say about that.
He stated: “When the law changed in the US there were loads of rainbow flags flying at our shows. ‘I think that was mainly because people think of the Louis and Harry thing [that they’re secret lovers], which is absolutely nuts and drives me insane.”
Many fans were outraged at this comment, stating that the main reason that rainbow flags are flown is because they feel safe to be who they are at One Direction concerts, and that not everything LGBTQIA+ related at concerts revolve around “Larry”. Many of them were feeling vulnerable and questioning how much support they genuinely have from their idol. The internet was buzzing with very mixed reviews and hurt teenage girls. Many of them were hoping for an apology, but that’s not what they got.
Instead, Liam hit back at the harsh comments, tweeting:
(Photo taken from DailyMail)
Other fans thought that Liam’s article was great – many of these however were straight fans who did not feel attacked the way the LGBTQIA+ community did. One fan wrote on twitter: “You all listen to Liam until he says something you don’t agree with, then you attack him.” As well as: “Liam’s article was great there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.”
He later in the interview spoke about Louis Tomlinson becoming a father, and expressed his dislike for the way “crazy theories” emerged and that the baby was a “cover-up.” He also touched on the fan fiction and fan art that circulates in the fandom, describing it as “weird”. He said that he finds it “strange that someone so young can think up these stories or even imagine these things are going on. That for me is the sad and sorry side of what we have done.”
Although there are very mixed views on Liam’s interview, and a lot of sad hearts too, it is widely known and accepted that Liam is a good, kind-hearted person. We think he definitely could have worded his answers much better in order to make his fans feel accepted, but it is what it is.
This all being said, it is absolutely vital to accept one another as we are, and to be who we are. Regardless of how you feel after this interview, do not stop being proud of yourselves, or bringing rainbows out to the shows. You are celebrating who you are or showing your support for the community, and that in itself is lovely.