#but the heavy cloak of misogyny is a tougher deal imo

[jlf23tumble]

Idk if it’s just me but this is Harry’s least “sus” relationship for me. Like, Camille would have been pointless as a stunt because they were hardly seen together and nobody knew who she was but at least it wasn’t detrimental and she was someone who his fans could project themselves on but Olivia??

Like, there’s the whole timeline thing, which I won’t get into, I don’t care and it’s none of my business but a lot of people do care and the media brought it up constantly at the beginning, that’s bad press for both of them. It’s her second directorial project and people are gonna talk about her boyfriend more than her, I doubt Olivia would want that if she wasn’t in love with said boyfriend. There’s the whole knowing how much scrutiny it will add to the movie, there’s the whole age gap thing and the whole, you know, her having kids.

Like, who does this benefit? Yeah the movie has been featured on tabloids a lot more than it would’ve otherwise, but with the cast it already has and the premise, it didn’t need that sort of push? There are so many articles by so many huge media outlets talking about how excited they are for the movie and hardly anyone even mentions their relationship in it.

Also, 99% of what the fandom knows about the relationship, the GP doesn’t, all the fan photos, all the walks, all the sharing clothes thing, that she and her kids live with him, that she drives his car, that they spent Christmas with both of their families and stuff, like nobody is checking for that, so what’s the point of it?? So much time and effort from two huge millionaire celebrities to convince a handful of fans that would’ve watched the movie regardless?

Also Harry is at a point in his career where being single and attainable would be a HUGE advantage, career-wise. Harry as a stepdaddy with a girlfriend pushing 40 is probably one of the least attractive scenarios for fans who want to project themselves with him. And while men don’t exactly go obsolete once they reach 30, it’s always a better age for heartthrobs to be in their 20s rather than 30s. So these last few years, where he’s at the top of the game in terms of fame and career, still in his 20s, are probably exactly when “they” would want him single and available. Any “stunt” would be with a highly desirable “it” woman like, idk, Bella Hadid or Sydney Sweeney, and last a couple of months tops.

And they can’t claim “she’s a beard” because Harry was single for nearly 3 years and nobody’s mind changed about his sexuality lmao. Also nobody would’ve thought that he was gay because he played a gay man in a movie. So I’m just here confused, what exactly is the gain of this “stunt”?

I can understand thinking Taylor or Kendall were stunts. I don’t think they were but at least they were high profile and got him a ton of publicity. I can understand thinking that Nadine or Camille were stunts because while pointless at least they weren’t harmful and they were pretty models his fans could project themselves onto and use for their Wattpad covers. Olivia makes zero sense as a stunt in any capacity.

Ma'am or sir, this is one long-ass ask full of utter nonsense that required coffee in the morning and wine at night to even read it through, and the wine is just kicking in enough to make me want to indulge in this utter waste of time responding to you, so here goes! Bulleted notes, by paragraph-response level first, then my own hot takes, and honestly, if you make me read something this long, guess what, you're gonna do the same! More under the cut because I love my mutuals who don't have to deal with this level of horseshit, and I can type fast:

1. (para 1) Better question: Why is Camille's relationship more "sus" than this one when they both serve the exact same purpose (i.e., givin' the gloss to the shine of whatever's happening lyrically in the album to come)? Camille isn't pointless if you a) want to write some breakup songs and then b) publicly break up with someone. I haven't heard hs3 yet, but I'm definitely curious about the content accordingly. Oh, and RED FLAG #1 here for the use of "detrimental," holy fuck, this fandom and the way it hates women, babes, he hired her, he "benefits” a lot more than she does (evidence: the garbage in the rest of this ask and anyone in the olivia/holivia tags). God, I love seeing posts going around right after they slam Olivia saying, it's never okay to blame someone who's in the closet, the irony being it's totally okay to blame the person that the person in the closet hired to help them stay in the closet. And what if THAT person might also not be straight? Anyone??

2. (para 2) This timeline business, no, my love, you DO care, seemingly lots of people who hate women care, lmao. From what I've seen, the movie hasn't gotten bad movie press beyond people in fandom wanting it to, there's a lot of hype (see literally your next paragraph), with most publications helmed by women going with the geddit, gurl response, and most publications run by men thinking Olivia's their dream girl, so geddit, gurl (at Harry). Movie publications genuinely don't care who's fucking who, they literally never have beyond the tee hee gossip of it all. Olivia doesn't need a bunch of accolades for Flo's oscar-winning performance, she needs seats in seats (this is my guess), like any director, and she's gonna geddit (gurl). Good for her! Wish people could give this much of a shit when male directors date their female stars and the public lines blur. RED FLAG #2 for the "worrying" about the age gap--she's ten years older, he's a grown-ass adult (again, where's the concern if that sex is flipped), the whole "you know, her having kids." GOD FORBID someone has kids somewhere and publicly dates someone else, so glad for all of us that fans are in the know about what the kids deal with on the daily in this situation, but I would pay TOP DOLLAR to see this level of concern about a male director's kids when he's publicly seen with someone who isn't their mom. I'll even give you a freebie--what about Jason? Worried about what the kids think about him dating someone HALF his age? Is he a bad dad when he's out on a date or walking down a street with her? He has a hella popular tv show...how's he juggling it?

3. (para 3) You answered your own question here--yeah, there ARE tons of huge media outlets talking about this movie that would've been an arthouse hit at best. They don't mention the relationship because it doesn't matter, yet it helped put said movie on their radar because all that online chatter matters, click click, etc. That's show BIZ, it happens every single day, every single movie, it's practically what helps make a smaller movie bigger. Or a bigger movie bigger. This isn't new or news!!

4. (para 4) See above, what's not clicking, the point of it is clicks! And there is ZERO time and effort put into it, they've done a few pap walks (idk the term for boat walk), and it's done! Sold! Clicked! I don't know how this is some kind of burden for anyone--other than those people who feel compelled to click on the link, then copy, paste, circle in red, underline, add arrows, attribute the wrong emotions to facial characteristics, repeat, then reblog it ad nauseum so everyone in fandom sees it. Talk about doing the work! It ain't Harry Styles, bb!

5. (para 5) I'm actually kind of relieved to see the ageism in this para also applied to Harry, too, but I'd suggest that maybe, just maybe, Harry doesn't WANT to be seen as single and ready to mingle (I haven't heard the album yet, though). Even then, gasp, what if he WANTS to be a stepmom?? How dare he!

6. (para 6) This is the para that broke me, where to even start, my love, SO MANY PEOPLE think he's gay, he has openly and actively played with that perception, and for whatever reasons you want to imagine, he's not openly actively out yet, hence he has a beard. You know, someone he has hired to help maintain his public privacy in terms of his sexuality. Every sentence in this para, whew.

7. (para 7) Okay, THIS is the para that lost me because if you don't think TAYLOR SWIFT or KENDALL JENNER were stunts or beards, I wonder if you can handle the idea of bearding in general and/or the concept that women in Hollywood aren't always straight eitehr. I know, it's hard to think of women outside the male lens, but maybe--just MAYBE--it's mutually beneficial, le gasp! I would also argue the "harmful" here because lorde, so many people were up in arms about Camille, and they just doubled down on Olivia, which is truly ironic if you identify as a l*rrie. Olivia makes THE MOST sense if you DO identify as such, but again, haven't heard the lyrics yet, just guessin'.

....blergh I ran out of steam on my own hot takes, but I'll say this:

1. Friendly reminder, you don't work at HQ, you do not get paid to know, to wonder, or to worry what the purpose of ANY of it is. Maybe there is one! Maybe there isn't! Who cares!

2. How sad I am for people who wring their hands over this kind of inconsequential bullshit instead of finding like-minded people to laff with over crack theories like the Oli/Eleanor strike for better benefits, Jeff's obsession with the TV show House meaning he forced Harry to write Olivia back in 2014 and date her now...and possibly name this album Harry's House as the world's best homage. Jesus CHRIST, have some fun! If you're gonna traffic in nonsense, for the love of yourself, traffic in fun nonsense. (Note: this does not apply to BONKERS people who legit think that Jeff sold Harry to Olivia Wilde for ~reasons, you gotta NOT hate women for true fandom enjoyment to seep in, which probably explains so much of the misery, if u think about it)

3. I could argue until I'm blue in the face about closeting, but this is a weird fandom that insists on outing its faves and not getting that the forcing of that card is just gonna push the doubling down on NOT coming out until your faves are able or willing to come out. And that might never happen, tbh! And you might have to live with that, you know, because it's okay!