One Direction Fans Show Support For Liam With #WhyILoveLiam Tweets
One Direction fans took to Twitter this weekend to show support for band member Liam Payne, using #WhyILoveLiam to post positive comments about the member who is taking heat for controversial comments made on stage last week.
The One Direction singer was introducing the song “Girl Almighty” at a recent concert when he made the comments Payne now says were misconstrued, according to JustJaredJr.
“This is my favorite song off the last album, and it is about trying to find that number one woman of your life, which none of you can relate to, ’cause most of you are girls. Except for the boys in here, you know what I’m talking about.”
The off-handed comments were immediately slammed as being homophobic comments from Payne. Liam immediately took to Twitter to defend himself, saying the comments were taken out of context and apologizing for those he offended during the One Direction concert.
lol think some people take things to literal these days not gunna comment on it anymore you guys know what I meant it was meant in general
— Liam (@LiamPayne) August 19, 2015
I am in no way shape or form homophobic that's a ridicules thing to say and I'm not here to offend people so take it as you will
— Liam (@LiamPayne) August 19, 2015
So annoying trying your hardest to make people happy in a show and you think about all the notes u tried to hit higher or a little sweeter
— Liam (@LiamPayne) August 19, 2015
Lol this is so insane the more I read I'm like wtf have u ever said something in the wrong way I'm sure every person here has lol
— Liam (@LiamPayne) August 19, 2015
I'm sorry to those I offended really I am but there's no need for some of the things I'm being called
— Liam (@LiamPayne) August 19, 2015
This isn’t the first homophobia controversy to surround the One Direction star. Last year, Payne was seen in altered pictures baring it all with another man in the background. At the time, Payne took to Twitter to defend himself and denied he was gay.
“Wow as if people think that weird photo going around is actually me lol think id rather tweet a full frontal than have people look at that [sic].”
Instead of calming the brewing storm, the tweet outraged some One Direction fans, according to the Independent. The One Direction singer later clarified his statement on Twitter with yet another tweet.
I'm 100% not homophobic. But I'm also 100% not gay so when somebody says I am I'm gunna say I'm not which does not make me a homophobe
— Liam (@LiamPayne) September 21, 2014
After starting #WeLoveYouLiam on Twitter following the concert, a new push to support the One Direction band member took flight Sunday morning, causing it to trend worldwide. The #WhyILoveLiam topic has been tweeted more than 300,000 times through midday Sunday with reasons that fans support the singer.
#WhyILoveLiam He continues to make me smile…everyday! pic.twitter.com/Bq1mTmQ7VL
— Filipa (@Pardal_FA) August 23, 2015
Liam just jumped off the stage to hug a fan
How can you not love him #WhyILoveLiam
http://t.co/vxF1ejulBN— Jasmine (@sacredzjm) August 23, 2015
The One Direction standout hasn’t responded to the gesture yet, but fans can expect to see some love from Liam Payne returned for the support. Payne and other One Direction members usually go above and beyond for their fans.
At a recent concert in Chicago, the sold out show still had fans waiting outside to hear the band. To make up for some of the disappointment, did One Direction buy the fans pizza? A tweet from the 21-year-old pop star hoping fans enjoyed pizzas certainly could point to that.
[Image by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images]