A Journalist Has Been Slammed For Grilling Louis Tomlinson Over Deaths Of His Mum And Sister
"I'm lucky enough to have a creative outlet for me to talk about grief, [but] this doesn't give you the right to talk about it for gossip purposes," Tomlinson said.
Louis Tomlinson has taken to Twitter to explain that he will never again appear on a popular British talkshow after the hosts pressed him on the tragic deaths of his mother and sister.
Tomlinson appeared on BBC Breakfast to promote his new record, Walls. As the conversation turned to the confessional nature of Tomlinson’s songwriting, host Dan Walker took the opportunity to ask about the ex-One Direction star’s decision to cover “the loss of your mother and your sister and other things.”
Tomlinson’s mother died of cancer in 2016, and his sister of an accidental overdose three years later.
During the actual taping of the show, Tomlinson appeared to handle the question without incident, redirecting conversation to his time on reality television. But shortly after the appearance, he took to Twitter to make his upset known.
Defo wont be going on there again Haha! Love to all my fans for always having my back
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) February 3, 2020
Quickly, Walker replied.
Sorry you feel like that. It was nice to speak to you on #BBCBreakfast this morning.
Can I ask what you are upset about? https://t.co/MNMUyHGQuj— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) February 3, 2020
And Tomlinson, with a boldness and honesty rare in the contemporary pop machine, answered.
I’m lucky enough to have a creative outlet for me to talk about grief this doesn’t however give you the right to talk about it for gossip purposes.
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) February 3, 2020
I was upset that you continued to ask me about my grief. It goes without saying how hard it is to lose both people so close to me. The least I ask is that you respect my decision of not wanting to be asked in interviews about something so painfull.
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) February 3, 2020
Since the Twitter exchange, fans have rallied around Tomlinson, praising him for the calm he displayed during the interview and slamming the journalists for their focus on gossip.
If you’re going to interview @Louis_Tomlinson , how about you ask him about the INCREDIBLE DEBUT SOLO ALBUM HE JUST CREATED, and not about the past or things he’s uncomfortable with. Dude just dropped an ALBUM… bro. Cmon.
— Nicholas Light (@NicholasLightTV) February 3, 2020
the way that the bbc journalist did louis tomlinson over grief was pitiful. i don’t think that was professional at all. makes me sad that us journalist have to look at this and see what was done. i hope more journalists will look at this that way stuff like this don’t continue.
— Nicholas Liddle (@NLiddle16) February 3, 2020
It’s more proof, if any was needed, that there are certain topics that are simply out of bounds — particularly for light morning television.