One Direction: Why Do Some Feel The Need To Mock ‘Directioners’


One Direction are lucky enough to have the support of the music industry’s most dedicated group of fans. The One Direction “fandom” turn out in their droves for every show and everywhere One Direction appear loyal fans turn out in force to show their support. Many One Direction fans have an endless fascination about what the boys are up to and use social media to keep up with all the latest One Direction news and gossip. One Direction fans have also demonstrated their generosity on numerous occasions by supporting the boys charitable efforts.

As a result, One Direction fans are frequently mocked for their dedication to Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Niall Horan. The level of mockery directed at One Directions fans has arguably reached something of a peak this year, as a number of big news stories surrounding the band broke.

Back in March of this year, the Daily Star pondered why One Direction fans were “mocked and ridiculed” for being publicly upset after former One Direction member Zayn Malik quit the band shortly after the beginning of their recently-completed world tour. As the Daily Star pointed out, thousands of adult men follow their soccer teams with the same level of dedication that Directioners show. They wear their team colors and emblazon the name of their favorite player on their back. Some tattoo their teams badge on their skin, and a small minority engage in violence against fans of other teams.

Why is pop music “obsession” laughed at, whilst soccer obsession is seen as acceptable?

Admittedly, Malik’s departure did throw up some distasteful incidents. As reported in Inquisitr, at the time, a minority of One Direction fans trended a disturbing hashtag, #cutforzayn, urging other fans to self harm in the hope that would convince Malik to change his decision.

One Direction fans
[Photo by Alex Huckle/Getty Images]
Of course, the level of distress that some fans endured when Malik quit One Direction is perhaps unusual, but it is by no means unique. As the Daily Mail reports fans of Boyzone, Take That, The Spice Girls, and the Beatles, and many others, all experienced similar levels of distress when those bands split. Perhaps the power of social media in the One Direction age makes the grief experienced by their fans more visible when the boys confirmed that they are to take an extended break.

The New Statesman reported that Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson was sacked by the BBC on the same day that Malik quit One Direction. Clarkson’s fans flooded the BBC with complaints and even raised a petition asking the U.K. Prime Minister to intervene to have Clarkson reinstated. One Direction fans were mocked and told to “grow up,” there was no similar mockery of fans of a television show about cars.

As the New Statesman explains, One Direction are a phenomena. They are a multi-million dollar brand, and their fans are extremely devoted to them. When Malik left, and later when One Direction announced their hiatus, their fans experienced a sense of loss, a sense of grief. Why do some people feel that it is impossible for some people to have compassion for those One Direction fans who are experiencing that sense of loss?

The New Statesman suggests that the lack of compassion might be because many of One Direction’s fans are teenage girls. As such, they are seen as “silly” and immature. Perhaps ironically, many of those who mocked One Direction fans probably experienced similar emotions when the Beatles or Take That split.

Of course, One Direction fans have a secret weapon. Time and again, members of One Direction stepped up to the plate to defend their fans. After Channel 4 screened a documentary that portrayed One Direction fans as “crazy,” Liam Payne spoke out in support of Directioners, praising them for their dedication.

[Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP]

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