Demi Lovato Talks One Direction Niall Horan Dating Rumors: "He's Not My Boyfriend"

Teen Vogue cover girl shoots down speculation she's getting romantic with the boy bander

By Gina Serpe Oct 09, 2012 5:30 PMTags
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Stand down, One Direction fans.

Demi Lovato is certainly no stranger to dating a high profile boy band member, but the breakout X Factor judge has clamped down on rumors that her friendship with 1D's Niall Horan has taken a turn away from the platonic.

"He's a really awesome, sweet guy," the Teen Vogue cover girl told the magazine. "But he's not my boyfriend...I'm in a place right now where I really need to focus on myself."

But just because she's not in a romance doesn't mean we should expect her to be a nun.

"Obviously, I'm still going to like people—or love them—but I need to not be in a relationship for a while because I need to be OK with being alone, first," she said. "I'm really happy right now. I never thought it was possible to be happy because of how depressed I was my entire life. But I feel so incredible. It's like living in a dream."

Of course, it hasn't all been coming up roses for the singer, who admitted that her post-rehab life required her to cut loose some people she previously thought of as close pals.

"I did kind of a friend cleanse right after rehab, where I weeded out people who didn't have my best interests at heart. Now I have friends who love me for who I am and don't care about what I'm doing. Most of them aren't in the industry. Some of them don't even know my songs!"

 As for what the future will bring for Demi?

"I want to make something that people will listen to for a while, rather than something that's just trendy. I feel like I've grown as a person, and I want my music to grow with me."