Louis Tomlinson needs to call out his fans’ rampant misogyny as they target his girlfriend, Zara McDermott, with baseless accusations and hateful comments. The situation escalated after photos emerged of Zara, 29, and Joey Essex, 35, sharing a hug after filming Cooking With The Stars on Saturday night. The Towie icon appeared to give her a brief peck on the cheek, while she wrapped her arm around him before leaving Versa Studios in London. The interaction, described as 'completely innocent,' sparked outrage among Louis’ fans, who accused Zara of cheating. She has been dating Louis, 34, since March 2025.
Now, searching Zara’s name on X reveals a flood of images, including a grainy photo that appears to show the pair kissing. However, Metro understands this image is a deepfake created with AI and has been reported to the police. Despite this, thousands of parasocial fans are sharing it to 'expose' Zara, with a fervor rooted in misogyny. Notably, Joey Essex, who is reportedly dating Lella Soper, has not faced similar vilification.
History of Harassment
Certain subsets of Louis’ fanbase seem to have been waiting for such a scandal, clamoring for the couple to break up. One so-called supporter branded Zara a 'racist and a serial cheater,' garnering hundreds of likes. This dig references a 2018 incident when Zara, then 21, sang along to the N-word in a video, which she later deleted and apologized for. The same year, she expressed pro-Brexit views, saying she didn’t want people 'taking advantage of things like the NHS.' However, fans do not challenge her politics; they simply defame her.
Other messages have gone as far as tagging Louis to inform him that his 'girlfriend is a notorious cheater,' with some saying they 'knew this would happen.' One fan posted a dancing gif referencing Zara’s 2019 cheating scandal with Sam Thompson, where she cheated on him with a label executive, creating a memorable Made In Chelsea scene. Sam forgave her, and they stayed together for five years, but Louis’ fans refuse to let her forget it.
The Toll of Parasocial Behavior
Bullying from disgruntled 'Louies' has plagued Zara throughout her relationship with Louis, but this latest outpouring of hatred is more intense. The unfounded claims could amount to defamation, potentially costing her brand deals and work, and repeat posters could face harassment accusations. It also strains her relationship with Louis. The responsibility now falls on the singer to bring his fans in line. If he is serious about this relationship, he must step in to protect Zara from his own fanbase. Ignoring the issue has not worked, and fans who disrespect her will not listen to her pleas.
While Louis and Zara have only been together for a year, a statement supporting his girlfriend and dismissing attackers is the only right thing to do. He previously hit out at 'hurtful' theories online but kept details vague. When pushed far enough, he does speak out, but he needs to go further. Louis should take a page from Prince Harry’s book, not Harry Styles, and make it clear he will not tolerate attacks on his partner. As Prince Harry said: 'There comes a point when the only thing to do is to stand up to this behaviour, because it destroys people and destroys lives. Put simply, it is bullying, which scares and silences people.'
Some fans have defended Zara, with one writing: 'So you’re a fan of Louis but you mock him over those rumors... now you’re CELEBRATING a supposed infidelity from someone you claim to love and be a fan of?' Another said: 'What in the parasocial freak fest is going on with people bullying Zara McDermott?! Leave her tf alone!' They highlighted her work to push for protections around revenge porn, which she herself was a victim of, and against male violence. 'Here are a load of people, mostly women, on a witch-hunt,' they concluded. 'Pathetic.'
Being a fan does not give anyone the right to dictate another’s personal or professional life, nor to harass their partners. Unfortunately, parasocial Louies are unlikely to stop until their idol tells them to – their misogynistic hatred of Zara runs too deep. Louis, now is the time to take a stand, even if it means losing a few distasteful fans along the way. Metro has reached out to Louis’ team for comment.
