To add on to the person asking about Larry and if u think it was real- I (unfortunately) used to be one- but as I grew up and kinda connected the dots I realized that if they were together, it likely evolved into something very unhealthy. There’s plenty of evidence that A) Harry wanted a solo career and B) Louis didn’t know. Amongst other unhealthy things… my guess as to why Louis gets so triggered by Larry of course is likely bc of his son, but also bc it’s likely that people are romanticizing his relationship with an ex that hurt him. Can you imagine ur S.O betraying you and you 1) can’t say anything about it 2) have to talk nicely about them anyway but also 3) everyone keeps shipping you two and you can’t scream that this person hurt you. I think they’ve forgiven each other and I don’t think that there’s any true bad blood, but I can imagine it’s exhausting to have to hear about
My guess is that Louis knew that Harry wanted to go solo (if Zayn did, surely Louis did), but at the time of hiatus, Louis (+Niall +Liam) didn’t know how much Harry would try to disassociate himself from One Direction. I think that was the most painful to Louis, Harry’s disloyalty. Louis could probably forgive Harry’s greed and the poor choice of friends, but not the insult to a band he was very proud of.
I also don’t think Harry’s change was something that happened right away; it wasn’t a switch that turned on January 1, 2016. Through 2016 Louis had a lot of personal issues to deal with (Freddie’s birth, Jay’s illness), and if I recall, in early 2017 Louis was patiently watching and waiting to see what would happen. There was a feeling of optimism that all of 1D could all do some sort of solo projects and support each other. Remember when Harry retweeted the photo of Louis drinking a milk shake, in April 2017? Harries won’t admit that he did this intentionally, but Harry Styles did, and the tweet was left up for 45 minutes. I think Louis was aware.
In 2017, Louis had praised Harry’s music and film (and hyped everyone else’s projects), wished Harry a happy birthday online, and given a lot of good will. Louis also denied Larry in July 2017 so Harry wouldn’t have to (but he still got to say he was “unlabeled”— LGBT friendly). At some point, it became clear that Harry wouldn’t return Louis’ good will, and that it wasn’t in Sony’s plans, either. Louis had taken the high road, and he got played. I think Louis used a word in his 1883 magazine interview, that people who weren’t native to LA but were transplants from elsewhere were “snakes.” For Louis, that’s a loaded, emotional word, with a lot of personal betrayal behind it.
I do think that Louis gets very irritated by the mention of Larry these days. You can see the difference in his facial expression between 2017 (sardonic, playful) and 2024 (tired, sick of it, disgusted). Louis took the extraordinary step of blocking HLD. Blocking a UA is something he has never done.
I would agree with you that Louis has gotten over whatever happened with Harry. He talks about Harry as a brother, not unlike Niall, in a neutral way. Both at the Euros finals and at Liam’s funeral, they were in the same vicinity with little to no interaction— neither positive nor negative. They didn’t avoid each other but weren’t visibly warm toward one another. Louis’ sister Lottie was at the funeral as well, seen only talking to Zayn’s family. Louis had no interactions with Ben Winston or James Corden, whom he’s known for ages. When Louis did talk to someone, it was Zayn.
Part of the reason that I think Louis is able to let go of the past is that he is secure in his own career now, with his own investments and projects, and a clear way ahead. AOTV was an exorcism of sorts. When Louis wrote Walls, he could say goodbye to those traumas through his creativity. When he made AOTV, he processed the trauma from One Direction, including the most hurtful, most traumatic times. Unlike Harry, Louis has no pettiness. He doesn’t really ever blame others, but rather tries to work out how to get it out of his own system.
But you can understand that a normal person only has so much forbearance for fans’ invasive, toxic nonsense. No matter how clearly Louis shows his displeasure, Larries don’t give up. I think this is one main reason that Louis rarely ever comes on social media.
Addendum: I also think that because Liam died from issues of addiction, anxiety, and lack of self-confidence, Louis feels responsible in a way, because he had always tried to publicly support and defend Liam. And I do think that Louis feels his bandmates could have done more for Liam, especially Harry, who never publicly returned Liam’s support or friendship. I think this is a very tough thing to forgive. I think Zayn’s gesture is wonderful, and I know Louis sees it too.