Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall Reveals Harry Styles ‘Ghosted’ Her After 1 Date amid One Direction’sX FactorSuccess

Mar. 15, 2025

Jade Thirlwall, pictured left alongside Harry Styles.Photo:Michael Loccisano/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

Michael Loccisano/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

Jade Thirlwallisn’t one to hold a grudge!On the Jan. 20, episode ofThe Louis Theroux Podcast, theLittle Mixalum, 32, revealedHarry Stylessuddenly stopped communicating with her amidOne Direction’srising success onThe X Factor. Whileauditioningfor 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 hostTheroux. “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 alongsideZayn Malik,Niall Horan,Louis Tomlinson, andLiam Payne.Jade Thirlwall.Dave Benett/Getty“I thought, ‘That’s it now. He’s gone, he’s made it’, ” she continued.The following year, Thirlwall had her ownX Factorsuccess in the group Little Mix withPerrie Edwards,Jesy Nelson, andLeigh-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.”Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards, 2011.Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock“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 forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto 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 onlyLittle Mixsinger who had a romance with a member of One Direction. Edwards dated Malik for four years before their relationship ended in 2015.

Jade Thirlwallisn’t one to hold a grudge!

On the Jan. 20, episode ofThe Louis Theroux Podcast, theLittle Mixalum, 32, revealedHarry Stylessuddenly stopped communicating with her amidOne Direction’srising success onThe X Factor. Whileauditioningfor 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 hostTheroux. “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 alongsideZayn Malik,Niall Horan,Louis Tomlinson, andLiam Payne.

Jade Thirlwall.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

“I thought, ‘That’s it now. He’s gone, he’s made it’, ” she continued.

The following year, Thirlwall had her ownX Factorsuccess in the group Little Mix withPerrie Edwards,Jesy Nelson, andLeigh-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.”

Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards, 2011.Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock

Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock

“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 forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto 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 onlyLittle Mixsinger who had a romance with a member of One Direction. Edwards dated Malik for four years before their relationship ended in 2015.

source: people.com