Being apart of any fandom can be a strange thing, especially when that fandom is based off of collective love for a group of British boybanders named One Direction. While participating in the fandom can be a rewarding experience — after all, it gives you the ability to converse with others who share similar interests with you — it can also be a bit of a struggle. One such time: Literally right this moment. I never thought I'd say this, but there are actual conspiracy theories about reports that Louis Tomlinson and Briana Jungwirth are allegedly expecting their first child, and they are out of control.
As I'm sure most of the world has heard at this point, People reported that Tomlinson and Jungwirth are allegedly expecting a child together (Bustle has reached out to Tomlinson’s reps for comment, but has not yet heard back). Though the report is unconfirmed (Peopledoesn't name the source who gives the details), the site claims that "close friends" Tomlinson and Jungwirth are "very excited" about the news, in addition to other details about what the two will reportedly do moving forward. As is the case with any fandom in the face of breaking news like this, One Direction reacted strongly: Though some were supportive, others immediately called BS, and began coming up with theories about alternate explanations for People's report.
Boy band conspiracy theories aren't exactly a brand-new phenomenon. The Beatles saw it way back in the '60s and '70s when fans purported that the band was dropping "hints" that Paul McCartney had died and been replaced with a lookalike, and One Direction even saw it when Zayn Malik departed the band in early 2015. However, that doesn't make them any less insane to read — and, in this case, it's no different.
Some Think The News Is Fake
This one is likely the simplest of all the "conspiracy theories" floating around on the Internet at the moment. As Tumblr user theboyfriendstagram posted on their blog, "Even if Louis was going to be a dad why would he ever let it leak to the tabloids like????? Unless it’s a publicity stunt which….oh wait." Similarly, the user continued to theorize that maybe the news was supposed to prepare fans for something bigger: "But what if this fake article is a test so they can see how we react to giant news and they’re actually preparing us for something bigger that’s actually legit?"
Of course, considering this report isn't confirmed, it's possible that People's source is incorrect. However, it's also possible that it's not incorrect — and, at this point, the latter doesn't seem so crazy.
Some Think Louis Is Just That Desperate For A Fifth Member Of One Direction
I mean. If anyone was going to father a child who would emerge from the womb able to sing and dance like a professional, it'd be a member of One Direction.
Some Think That It Could Be A Bigger Conspiracy
Aaaaand here's the motherlode: Apparently, some fans are theorizing that this pregnancy report could be real, but that Briana is actually a surrogate for Louis and...wait for it... his One Direction bandmate, Harry Styles. As Tumblr user tinyfeetlou wrote, "Briana is such a sweet girl, being a surrogate mother to Larry’s child (:" Another user, chloeniccole, even posted what they purported to be a "screenshot" from Tomlinson's account admitting to the conspiracy.
OK, so, anyone who's engaged in the One Direction fandom knows that the Styles/Tomlinson 'ship is a strong one — but this is a bit intricate. (And by a bit, I mean a lot.)
Guys, please: If this news is true, just be happy for the dude — who is a 23-year-old adult, perfectly capable of making his own decisions — and let him live?
