#lighton larry thoughts

[backtothelighton]

one thing I’ve been thinking about is that it must be FUN for L and H to release music at the same time. the fan madness! the pride! the charting! the crazy interviews!

…and they haven’t gotten to do that together since 2015…

and this year they were like you know what? fuck it. together together.

[backtothelighton]

Another DOAC thought: I’m an attorney, and one thing that keeps me coming back to this place (for over a decade!) is trying to figure out the legal tangle of it all. What holds them in place?

We’ve long assumed, based on contracts that have leaked over the years, that there are non-disparagement clauses in the X-Factor contracts. Basically, that means they can’t publicly criticize Simon.

For example: Remember when Harry joked in an interview a few years ago that Simon gave him “anxiety” and then a whole round of articles dropped about how Simon is a huge mentor to him? Come on, those two haven’t spoken in years. But some lawyers made some scary late-night phone calls that week, I bet.

All of which is to say: was anyone else shocked by how openly Louis criticized Simon in the DOAC podcast? Some of that language sure seemed actionable to me, and I have to think that it is not a coincidence he did his first long-form interview ever so soon after the 15th anniversary.

What else expired this year?

[backtothelighton]

If Louis and Zayn had really shared a dressing room, 1DHQ would have been so loud about it in 2014.

They were so pressed to come up with alternate explanations for any Larry rumors (remember Louis “sleeping on the tour bus”… because they only had four hotel rooms?).

We would simply Not be hearing about this for the first time 11 years later.

More DOAC later… generally so, so inspired by Louis… but come on, this was a howler.

[backtothelighton]

DOAC thought #3: Louis has generally strung together a coherent narrative here: the rabble-rouser in the band, best friends with Zayn, got blindsided by the break, took a while to find his footing, very close with Liam, loves being a dad, wrote a record here that he’s very proud of about being deeply in love.

And, look, I’m someone who’s been in and out for a long time. Most days, I think they’re married, the kid’s fake, and they’re still tangled up in a bunch of things. If the above narrative gets him better promo or keeps them safe or whatever, I’ll roll with it in public and with casual fans. We’re playing a long game.

I’ve spent some time trying to piece the contracts together, and this podcast definitely filled in some blank spots for me.

I am generally so, so, SO blown away by Louis on this podcast. The emotional honesty, the thoughtfulness, the maturity—Team Louis forever, baby. But I couldn’t help looking for the holes in the narrative—not because he’s a “liar,” but to see where the bodies are still buried. I’ve put a few up in the last few days for the very small audience of this very small blog.

Here’s another: I don’t believe for a second that he re-signed with Sony/SYCO out of “loyalty.” They hated Simon by Spring 2015. Remember “Not anymore, Simon?” There’s no way. I think he traded something…freedom for Harry? Keeping something else buried? Syco kicked babygate into high gear in revenge, basically, once he’d signed. This wasn’t a “loyalty” deal. I still want to know what he traded.

[backtothelighton]

Kids turn into kids with kids

Who would've thought we'd be good at this, well

If I'm honest

To be honest

I think I knew

…do they HAVE A SECRT BABY????? I will not survive. I love them. I love that they’re happy.

[backtothelighton]

feral of Harry to give a third tour initials LT/TL

didn’t think he’d do it but girl I underestimated you

[backtothelighton]

💙his and hers cover shots 🦋