Infphoto.comA young woman named Melissa is being bombarded with insulting and even threatening comments from One Direction fans after unconfirmed reports said she appeared cozy in public with Niall Horan, one of the popular boy band's five members.
The singer has not commented about his love life. A person resembling Melissa, who is believed to be a 21-year-old university student, was photographed earlier this month spotted leaving a plane and walking behind the singer after landing in Sydney, Australia. One Direction is in the country to perform several concerts during their On the Road Again Tour. They had shows in Sydney on Feb. 7 and 8.
On Feb. 15, a Twitter user posted the following tweet.
OMG?? Niall Horan and Melissa?? They were seen in a casino, they kissed. And he held her by the waist and playing with her hair??
? Vanessa (@kukla170) February 15, 2015Similar tweets have also surfaced, including some showing what people are describing as photos and Vine videos of the couple.
"Melissa I swear if u hurt Niall me and my BFF will personally come hunt u down and kill u," one user wrote. "U r holding our world and we love him so much."
Another Twitter user posted on Feb. 17, that Melissa "can f--king leave on her own or be forced out," adding, "Choose wisely bitch."
Then of course, there are these...
Niall and Melissa #hahaha pic.twitter.com/aMmtAZObfx
? soma farag (@SomaSomatm) February 18, 2015"niall and melissa"
pic.twitter.com/PwX24wQ2XW
? ?° w loves n°? (@zaynmalikfanaf) February 18, 2015Melissa has also been bombarded with insults and threats on what is believed to be her Instagram page. A selfie she published on Tuesday has more than 24,000 comments. More than 64,000 people commented on a previous pic, which shows her with an Australian university student.
Here are several examples:
"You need to stay away from Niall, I don't want him to get hurt, I know things."
"Niall is mine."
"BITCH!"
"I F--KING HATE YOU...I KNOW @niallhoran LOVES YOU OR WHATNOT BUT I SWEAR DOWN IF ANYTHING F--KING HAPPENS TO HIM, I SWEAR TO THIS DAY, I WILL FIND YOU AND [PISTOL EMOJI] YOU."
"You look like a fish."
"UGLY."
"VERY UGLY."
"DON'T HURT NIALL JUST BREAK UP WITH HIM NOWWWWWW.'
According to a screenshot posted by the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail, Melissa responded to the haters, saying in an Instagram comment in one of her own posts, "For all you asking yeah Niall and I dating. Niall has not posted about because we have decided we will wait until its the right time, I haven't done anything to any of you so please stop sending me mean comments :)"
Amid all the hate, however, Melissa has also received positive comments, such as:
"SHE'S BEAUTIFUL BYEEEEE."
"She is actually pretty. Takes lot of selfies but pretty."
"You are a beautiful girl, I just [want] Niall to be happy with you or anyone."
Many One Direction fans have taken their loyalty to the band members to the extreme before.
In 2012, a model Harry Styles was seen canoodling with quit Twitter after receiving online threats. A year later, several fans reportedly threatened the life of a puppy recently acquired by member Liam Payne and his girlfriend. In September, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart was bombarded with angry comments after correspondent Jessica Williams made a joke referencing member Zayn Malik and his religion.