FANGIRL EXTREME

Creators Of Homoerotic One Direction Art Threaten Suicide After UK TV Portrays Them As “Insane”

tumblr_static_a99cj4lccaeqbd_The UK’s Channel 4 debuted their original documentary about the “most obsessed” One Direction fans last night, and sparked some unexpected and potentially dangerous drama on Twitter.

The two-hour documentary, Crazy About One Direction, profiled some of the most diehard Directioners and questioned whether the band’s following is simply a fad or a brand new phenomenon—”a cult now powered by the online community.” As an added bonus, the doc explored certain fans’ “gay fantasies” and “even One Direction’s willy sizes.”

What sounds like quality programming was an offense to the hundreds of Directioners the doc profiled, who didn’t realize they would be portrayed as “insane” and “obsessive.” During the premiere last night, many took to Twitter and threatened suicide.

Some time last night, the hashtag #RIPLarryShippers began trending on Twitter. The term refers to a subset of Directioners—the Larry Shippers—who create gay fanfiction and art centered around the shared fantasy of a gay relationship between band members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.

Embarrassed and distraught over being made to “look insane” on national television, the “Larry Shippers” staged their Twitter suicides. Though no actual suicides have been confirmed or reported, it was convincing enough to grab the attention of the media and band member Liam Payne:

Today, Channel 4 released the following statement:

“Whilst not suggesting that the girls featured represent all 1D fans, it examines the impact social media has had on teenage fandom and how it has developed a new form of idol worship for many teenage girls.”

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