Did Zara McDermott cheat on Louis Tomlinson? Viral photos spark frenzy

Viral photos of Zara McDermott and Joey Essex have sparked online speculation about Louis Tomlinson

Viral photos of Zara McDermott and Joey Essex have sparked online speculation about the status of Zara’s relationship with former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson.

The images, which began circulating across TikTok and X, appear to show McDermott and Essex sharing a close moment during what fans believe was an event connected to their upcoming television project. One photo in particular, showing Essex appearing to kiss McDermott on the forehead, quickly triggered rumours online, with some social media users questioning whether the pair’s friendship had become romantic.

The funny thing is people attacked me but I didn't have to do a single thing.

Zara McDermott once a cheater, always a cheater x pic.twitter.com/n1GcJgBrC1

— EXPOSING ZARA MCDERMOTT (@exposingzaramcd) May 18, 2026

zara mcdermott cheating on louis tomlinson with JOEY ESSEX of all people was not on my bingo card😭😭😭😭

— 💋🪩𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ (@discodivarry) May 18, 2026

Zara really went from dating sam thompson to louis tomlinson to joey essex. you literally cannot make this shit up 😭 https://t.co/xDnwv5A0tC

— °☆SAR☆° (@Coucoutruther) May 18, 2026

Neither McDermott, Essex nor Tomlinson has publicly addressed the speculation.

The rumours gained traction among One Direction fans, with online reactions divided over the nature of the images. Some users referenced McDermott’s past relationship controversies, while others argued the photos do not confirm any wrongdoing and could simply reflect a close friendship between co-stars.

According to reports circulating online, the images were first shared through a TikTok account before spreading widely across fan communities. However, the claims and interpretations surrounding the photos have not been independently verified.

The renewed attention has also brought focus back to McDermott’s previous public admission that she had been unfaithful during an earlier relationship with reality television personality Sam Thompson. The incident became public in 2020 and was later discussed openly on reality television and social media.

Despite growing online discussion, there has been no official confirmation of problems between McDermott and Tomlinson, who have largely kept their reported relationship private since they were first linked in 2025.

The situation continues to fuel debate online as fans closely monitor social media activity and await any public response from those involved, according to reports and viral posts circulating on social platforms.