From Audition Stage to Radio Silence: Jade Thirlwall Reflects on Teenage Ghosting by Harry Styles
The whirlwind world of reality talent shows can forge unexpected connections, and for Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix, one such early link involved none other than global superstar Harry Styles. In a recent candid conversation on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Thirlwall reminisced about a brief teenage romance with Styles during their shared time auditioning for The X Factor back in 2010 – a connection that ultimately faded with a classic case of ghosting.
Both hopefuls, around the tender age of 16, found themselves navigating the intense audition process. Amidst the nerves and anticipation, a spark ignited between them, leading to a single date. However, the trajectory of their journeys soon diverged dramatically. Styles, of course, was famously grouped together with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson to form the pop phenomenon One Direction.
As One Direction’s star began its rapid ascent, so too did communication with Thirlwall dwindle. “We went on a date once,” Jade revealed to Theroux, adding with a touch of humor, “He ghosted me! He didn’t reply to my messages.” The realization dawned on the young aspiring singer that the burgeoning success of the boy band had likely swept Styles into a new orbit. “I was like, ‘Oh well, that’s that then!'” she recalled thinking as One Direction progressed to the live shows.
Fate, however, had another chapter in store for Thirlwall. The following year, she returned to The X Factor with newfound determination, eventually finding phenomenal success as part of the groundbreaking girl group Little Mix. This return brought an inevitable reunion with the now-mega-famous Harry Styles.
According to Thirlwall, the encounter was marked by an apology from Styles for his earlier radio silence. Reflecting on the situation with a mature and lighthearted perspective, Jade downplayed the significance of the teenage brush-off. “I was so young, I didn’t really care,” she stated, emphasizing that Styles was always “very, very lovely.”
The anecdote offers a charming glimpse into the early days of two major music icons, highlighting the unpredictable nature of fame and the often-humorous experiences that pave the way to stardom. While their teenage romance was short-lived, both Jade Thirlwall and Harry Styles went on to achieve remarkable success, their paths occasionally crossing in the vast landscape of the music industry, no doubt with a shared understanding of their unique beginnings.