PR Relationships...“Which Could Mean Nothing”

Danielle Farrell
Sep 17
3 min read

The duality of celebrity relationships through the public eye

By: Danielle Farrell

Credit: APEGA International/Everett Collection

In 2025, there is little to no privacy in the media when it comes to celebrity relationships. Whether it be a relationship being milked for publicity or society’s collective manifestation of a certain pair, pop culture romance is endlessly on display.

What makes a person want to watch a movie more than hearing news that the two romantic leads are dating in real life, too?

Occasionally, however, the public can speculate a relationship to be true to the dismay of those involved. This juxtaposition defines society and its yearning for romanticization, no matter the context.

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney

With the release and press tour of their 2023 rom-com “Anyone But You,” the two were continuously seen perpetuating their off-screen chemistry. They both were in relationships at the time, but fans were convinced of the romance due to their flirtatious nature.

The marketing strategy ended up earning them a box office hit. Powell and Sweeney even recently confirmed that they leaned into the buzz to promote their film.

When Sweeney appeared on SNL, she poked fun at the speculations during her celebrity guest monologue, as the cameraman panned to Powell after she requested to show her fiancé.

Needless to say, these two actors embraced their romance rumors and even worked to fuel the fire.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson

The Twilight fandom was enamored, to say the least, when the actors playing Bella Swan and Edward Cullen were rumored to also be dating in real life. Though genuine, their relationship has consistently been referred to as a PR tactic, as the couple only lasted throughout the timeframe of the movie series.

With the crazed fanbase of obsessed teen girls, it was hard not to come across fanfiction of Pattinson and Stewart. The romance ended abruptly, with a cheating scandal by Stewart, and some questioned the convenience in timing.

Was the relationship only the capitalization of an irresistible promotional tactic or true love?

On the other hand, there are moments in pop culture where two individuals are intensely shipped or theorized to secretly be together with no outright confirmation.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

The ever-elusive relationship between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon has gripped the public for years, originating in the early 1980s when they became close friends.

People have noted over the years that the two seem incredibly close, and the internet has heavily speculated that the celebrities are in fact having a secret homosexual relationship.

In one article, a journalist pointed out Damon’s continuous lack of a wedding ring when visiting Affleck at his home, ending it with the humorous, “which could mean nothing.” This led to the creation of an iconic meme.

This jab is a direct reference to society’s tendency to quickly brush off intimate male friendships as strictly platonic without a thought. Even individuals close to the pair have insinuated that there is something between them, although the public has yet to find out the truth.

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson

Ex-One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson have sparked an army of “Larries” (Larry Stylinson shippers) to believe that they had or have a hidden romance.

Even though the band has been broken up since 2015, the speculation remains prevalent and edits can still be found on various social media platforms.

Although some fans criticize these beliefs due to the pressure directed towards the musicians to come out as queer, many One Direction fans continue to reference numerous events as proof. Some of these include suspicious interviews, matched outfits and supposed secret messages sent between the two in a public manner.

However, both Styles and Tomlinson maintain that this romantic relationship does not exist and never has. This romanticization has grown into one of the most popular theorized romances in pop culture and has appeared throughout numerous mediums.

Ultimately, this repetitive longing reduces to the idea that society is constantly searching for a way to sentimentalize their lives. Love is in the very nature of our being, and we look for it in everything, but is this tendency ultimately damaging our perception of actual romance and fueling unhealthy expectations?

It seems that, within our culture, it does not matter.

Danielle Farrell is an avid participant in internet-shipping and, unfortunately, participated in the Gaylor speculations that were recently debunked. She loves to read about romance.