Pete Wicks has finally opened up about Zara McDermott’s growing romance with Louis Tomlinson, sharing that he’s genuinely happy for the pair despite Zara being the ex-girlfriend of his close friend Sam Thompson. The couple recently made headlines after being spotted holding hands during a sun-filled getaway in Los Angeles.
Speaking on KISS Breakfast alongside Olivia Attwood, Pete addressed the situation with a mix of humor and warmth. He admitted he knows both Zara and Louis and said he was happy for them. “I know them, there’s a slight connection there, and you know… I’m happy for them, I really am,” he said, before joking about the now-viral photos of the couple: “I’ve seen the pictures — they’re walking through a car park… so romantic!” Pete admitted he was trying not to say too much, adding that it was “good gossip” and he “might tell you more off air.”
Zara, 28, and Louis, 33, have been quietly revealing glimpses of their relationship. After enjoying a night out at a Stereophonics concert, where they carefully avoided being seen in each other’s social media posts, Zara later soft-launched the romance with a photo of the two having breakfast together in Malibu, with Louis’ arm partially visible in the shot.
Their relationship was more openly confirmed when they were photographed holding hands during a lunch date at Soho Beach House in Malibu. Both looked cheerful and relaxed as they chatted, though some body language experts have speculated that one of them may be more emotionally invested than the other.
This new romance comes only a month after the pair were first spotted having dinner together at a hotel restaurant in Suffolk.
Zara and Sam Thompson had been together for five years before breaking up in December. During their relationship, Pete Wicks was often jokingly referred to as their “third wheel,” frequently appearing in their TikTok videos and joining them on outings and date nights.
Sam has yet to directly comment on Zara and Louis’ new relationship, though he previously shared a cryptic message on social media, saying that “people look for validation in others to fill that hole,” and added that it was something he personally “can’t do.” On a recent episode of his podcast Staying Relevant, co-hosted with Married At First Sight’s Paul C. Brunson, Sam was asked what he was doing to find self-love, hinting that he is focusing inward after the split.
