Louis Tomlinson and Zara McDermott’s relationship timeline explored amid Joey Essex cheating rumours

Louis Tomlinson and Zara McDermott have kept fans invested in their romance ever since they first sparked dating rumours in early 2025.

From subtle social media clues to public festival appearances and viral relationship moments, the pair quickly became one of the internet’s most talked-about celebrity couples.

However, their relationship has recently found itself at the center of controversy after viral rumors linked Zara to Joey Essex. Here’s a closer look at Louis and Zara’s relationship timeline so far.

Dating rumours first began in March 2025 after eagle-eyed fans noticed that Louis, his sisters Lottie Tomlinson, Phoebe, and Daisy had all started following Zara on Instagram. Zara also followed them back, instantly fueling speculation online. Soon after, Louis and Zara were reportedly spotted together during a romantic dinner outing, with reports claiming the singer had taken her on a private getaway.

The rumours intensified in April 2025 when fans noticed Louis’ recognizable arm tattoos appearing in the background of one of Zara’s Instagram Stories. The pair later posted matching clips from a Stereophonics concert in Los Angeles, further convincing fans that they were dating.

By May 2025, Louis publicly showed support for Zara by commenting “Proud of you x” under one of her Instagram posts celebrating her documentary work. Around the same time, Lottie Tomlinson also spoke warmly about Zara in interviews, calling her “amazing” and saying the couple looked happy together.

The relationship became even more public in June 2025 when Zara joined Louis and his friends at Glastonbury Festival. Photos and videos from the festival quickly spread online, with fans celebrating the couple’s growing closeness.

In August 2025, Zara officially confirmed the relationship on Instagram by sharing a photo of herself kissing Louis alongside a simple heart emoji caption. Louis responded in the comments with “I love you x,” sending fans into a frenzy. Around the same time, Zara was also seen bonding with Louis’ sisters at an event for his fashion brand, further cementing her place within the singer’s inner circle.

Later reports claimed Zara had started spending most of her time at Louis’ home, with sources suggesting the couple had become inseparable. By December 2025, Zara referred to her birthday celebrations with Louis as “the best birthday ever,” sharing another affectionate selfie together online.

Now, in 2026, the relationship is facing heavy public scrutiny after viral photos allegedly showed Zara and Joey Essex sharing what many initially interpreted as an intimate moment while filming Cooking with the Stars. The images sparked immediate cheating accusations online, especially among Louis’ fanbase.

However, several fans later pointed out that the widely circulated “kissing” photos appeared to actually show Joey kissing Zara on the cheek while wrapping filming for the day. Despite that, social media debate continued to intensify, with many users revisiting Zara’s past relationship controversies involving ex-boyfriend Sam Thompson.

Neither Louis, Zara, nor Joey Essex has publicly commented on the rumours so far. Still, Louis recently drew attention after posting an Instagram Story promoting his upcoming Brazil show, which many fans interpreted as his subtle response to the ongoing online frenzy.

For now, the couple’s relationship status remains unclear, but the internet continues to closely follow every update surrounding the pair.