Louis Tomlinson shocked fans last week when he was linked to reality star Zara McDermott. 

Fans claimed the pair were dating after noticing they were following each other on social media, with one user alleging that they were working on a documentary together. 

They seemingly cemented the rumours when they were spotted on a romantic dinner date at a H๏τel in Suffolk, tucking into fish and chips and cocktails. 

However, there could be trouble in paradise brewing, with One Direction star Louis, 33, previously making very snide remarks about reality series Love Island, the show that rocketed Zara, 28, to fame. 

Louis made disparaging remarks not just about the show but the contestants as well, saying in 2019: ‘I’ve got no time for Love Island, I absolutely despise that show. 

‘Do you know what’s bad? What’s bad is one year, one year I got pulled in – this is my excuse anyway -I got pulled in to watch it, maybe I put a few tweets out about it…

‘Honestly it’s a tragic show. I’ve got no time for it or anyone on it.’ 

Louis Tomlinson revealed his real feelings about Zara McDermott in previous posts about Love Island – and it’s not good news for the reality star!

In 2018, when Zara appeared on the show, Louis admitted he was sick of the programme. tweeting: ‘Can I just say, thank f**k love island is over!’ when the series ended. 

He doubled down on his remarks by tweeting that he thought the show was setting a bad example to its viewers. 

When asked by a fan if he was watching the show, Louis responded: ‘I’m not. Made the mistake of watching previous years but enough is enough.

‘It’s not a good message for the younger people watching.’

It was a change of heart for the star, who in 2017 not only admitted he was watching the ITV2 series but was fully invested and rooting for ‘sweet’ Camilla Thurlow to win. 

Louis’ cutting comments could cause an issue with his budding romance with Zara, with the pair said to have been on a number of low key dates over the past few weeks.

A source told The Sun: ‘Louis whisked Zara away for a break in Suffolk and he absolutely charmed her, it’s clear he thinks she’s drop-ᴅᴇᴀᴅ gorgeous too.

‘Louis is a proper gentleman so this trip was something he planned and put on for Zara. He was really thoughtful and wanted to make it special.’

The source added that the pair are taking things slow and a similarity they share is how close they are with their families.

In 2018, when Zara appeared on Love Island, Louis admitted he was sick of the programme. tweeting: ‘Can I just say, thank f**k love island is over!’ when the series ended

In 2019 Louis tweeted that he thought the show was setting a bad example to its viewers, having previously said it was ‘a tragic show. I’ve got no time for it or anyone on it’

Louis and Zara were pictured on a dinner date at The Suffolk H๏τeel last week, with a guest at the restaurant (pictured) saying they saw the pair looking relaxed as they touched hands 

Louis and Zara were pictured on a dinner date last week, with a guest at the restaurant saying they saw the pair looking relaxed as they touched each others’ hands over the table.

Zara was previously in a relationship with Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson.

MailOnline revealed the couple had split in December after five years together, with the Strictly star revealing shortly after that she had moved out of their Chelsea home.

In January, she shared a TikTok documenting her day filming for Morning Live, where she confirmed she was living somewhere new, with clips of her in bed and glimpses of her room while getting ready.

Louis was last linked to model Sofie Nyvang in February 2023 when they were pH๏τographed holding hands during a stroll in Los Angeles.

He shares eight-year-old son Freddie with ex-girlfriend Briana Jungwirth. 

Speculation over Zara and Louis’ relationship started last week, when fans shared conspiracy theories the pair were secretly dating after noticing that they follow each other on Instagram.

Louis only follows 336 accounts on the social media platform with Zara being one of them.

Reddit users also claim that Louis’s sisters, including make-up artists Lottie Tomlinson, and twins Daisy and Phoebe, follow Zara too.

Zara was previously in a relationship with Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson. MailOnline revealed the couple had split in December after five years together (pictured in 2024) 

One fan wrote on Reddit: ‘I’ve read a lot of rumours that Louis is in a relationship with Zara McDermott.

‘They recently started to follow each other on Instagram. She follows all of his sisters, and they follow her back.’

Another said: ‘Louis is having a concert in London today, and I’m just waiting for Zara to be spotted there or that she post a story from the concert.’

Other fans weren’t convinced though as they speculated that the connection could be more to do with her working on a new documentary involving his sisters.

They penned: ‘I also heard rumors that she’s part of the rumored series the twins are trying to get going, so fingers crossed it’s more about that.’,

‘I’m seeing a lot of people posting that they think they are dating. Just because he followed her? Weird! I’m sure he follows a lot of people.’