On the Jan. 20, episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, the Little Mix alum, 32, revealed Harry Styles suddenly stopped communicating with her amid One Direction’s rising success on The X Factor. While auditioning for the U.K. version of the talent show in 2010, it seemed romance was blossoming between them but things unexpectedly took a turn.
“We went on one date when we were like 16 or something,” Thirlwall told podcast host Theroux. “He had just been put in a band and it was really funny because we kept in touch.
“And then the minute they went on live shows he didn’t message me back,” she said of Styles, 30, who went on to compete on the show as One Direction alongside Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne.
“I thought, ‘That’s it now. He’s gone, he’s made it’, ” she continued.
The following year, Thirlwall had her own X Factor success in the group Little Mix with Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
She also recalled running into Styles backstage when One Direction was invited to perform on the show that year.
“I saw him in a room after and he was like, ‘I’m really sorry that I ignored you’, ” Thirlwall said laughing, as Theroux replied, “He ghosted you.”
“Yes. Again, I was so young it didn’t really matter,” she added. “He was always very, very lovely.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Theroux joked that she was in “so much pain” before revealing Styles “could be listening” to the podcast because he’s a friend of the show.
“He’s gotten himself where he is because he’s very talented,” Thirlwall said. “He’s very lovely, very charming.”
Thirlwall isn’t the only Little Mix singer who had a romance with a member of One Direction. Edwards dated Malik for four years before their relationship ended in 2015.
Meghan Markle joined relief efforts for the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. Us Weekly understands that the Duchess of Sussex, 43, personally volunteered her time...
