It's quite common for my FYP to feature the specific genre of 1D fans posting videos about their Larry takes; most, if not all takes, claim Larry was real *insert some time period between 2010-2017* but not anymore in 2026. Some of them also have the outright idiocy to claim they're now in real relationships.
Let me be clear: "Larry is real" and "Z1 and Z2 are their real girlfriends" is a total paradox. These things can in no logical way both be true.
First off: It's very weird to think someone was in a queer relationship but has never pursued one since, or that Larry denials in the current days are true but in the part weren't. That just outright doesn't make sense.
Especially Louis' dating timeline doesn't make sense. Louis "dated" Eleanor during this period were they also think Larry was real. They were together for a long time, broke up and dated again for a long time before breaking up again in 2022.
So either you 1) think Eleanor was first a stunt but it second time they fell in love or something 2) think Louis was in a PR relationship, dated for real, then for some reason went back to the PR relationship and now he's in a real one again.
See, it doesn't really make sense.
Okay, then into the reason why I think people make these claims: they're scared.
The fandom (antis) are especially toxic and saying you fully believe in Larry will at some point get you striped of your dignity and human rights according to antis.
The "they dated but not anymore" is the safe option. They want to follow the narrative given, so they don't get harassed for it. They pick the acceptable option that makes no sense.
I hope this sounds at least somewhat coherent, lol.