“He's taking the 'Justin Timberlake' route” - Netizens react as The Kid LAROI denies claims that his team paid people to hate on Tate McRae

The Kid LAROI has found himself in the middle of a social media storm, accused by netizens of orchestrating a smear campaign against Tate McRae by allegedly paying people to post hate. In response, he’s denied all involvement and claims he’s actively working to take the offending posts down. One blistering reaction under a fan’s post read,

“Oh, so he's taking the ‘Justin Timberlake’ route. Promote attacks on the ex, and then performatively deny it.”

Rumors suggest that his team may have encouraged posts linking the breakup to his new single, “Hot Girl Problems,” prompting LAROI himself to fire back on X: he’s got nothing to do with it and is removing those posts.

The Kid LAROI reveals he’s working to take down posts attacking Tate McRae after accusations his team paid for hate using his new single amid breakup rumors:

“dm me, I’ll pay you double to tell me who paid you” pic.twitter.com/KaDtELuqnq

— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 25, 2025

In short, netizens are wagging their fingers and LAROI is in full damage‑control mode, all against a backdrop of speculation around a now‑confirmed split from Tate McRae.

What netizens are saying about The Kid LAROI: Tate McRae smear campaign drama explained

In the wake of allegations that The Kid LAROI’s team paid to fuel hateful commentary about Tate McRae, netizens have been on fire. Tweets poured in, framing the situation as an echo of the classic “ex comes after the ex via PR stunt” narrative. Some reactions were succinct:

“when did they break up??” and

“Wbk it was pr…. Be so fr.”

Others offered support:

“good on him for trying to get them taken down… hope he can find out who did it.”

Then there’s the biting remark invoking Lana Del Rey’s wisdom:

“Like Lana del Rey said. Where there’s smoke there’s a fire 😘.”

As accusations swirled, LAROI himself stepped in. He confirmed via social media that he has “nothing to do with this” and “DO NOT co‑sign this behavior whatsoever,” adding that he’s “working to get these removed”. The tweets undercut the idea of intentional smear or shadow PR moves. One dramatic comment by him even quipped:

“dm me, I’ll pay you double to tell me who paid you,” referencing the fan’s jab about paid haters.

Netizens latched on to that tweet, comparing LAROI’s denial to when Justin Timberlake took aim at an ex via media narrative, only to later issue a tame apology. That “Justin Timberlake route” metaphor captured the sentiment: orchestrate the attack, then publicly deny or feign regret. LAROI’s denial may soothe some, but cynics aren’t entirely convinced. A handful of fans, meanwhile, sided with him:

“good on him for trying to get them taken down…,” signaling belief in his innocence and a desire to move forward.

The conversation underscores a larger trend: when pop stars split, so does the public’s imagination about PR, campaigns, tragedies, and narratives. The Kid LAROI is now stuck clearing the air, tangled in online accusations, all while promoting his new track. Whether the backlash is rooted in fact or fandom projection, netizens aren’t letting it drop, and “smear campaign” and “react” are trending in the same breath. LAROI may have denied involvement, but the chatter continues.

Relationship status: The Kid LAROI and Tate McRae

It’s now confirmed: The Kid LAROI and Tate McRae have called it quits. While the split seems to be recent, neither has released a joint statement, but LAROI’s X post hints that they’re “on good terms”.

They first went public with their relationship in mid‑2024 and collaborated on-stage and musically, including affectionate moments at events and a duet that featured on McRae’s album. Their breakup has fans curious, and tweets like “when did they break up??” reflect the collective surprise and speculation.

As the dust settles, The Kid LAROI has put forward one clear message: he’s not behind the posts attacking Tate McRae and is actively removing them. Whether netizens will move on or not depends on whether more evidence emerges. For now, fans, smear talk, campaign rumors, and reactions are dominating the chatter, and LAROI’s attempt to clear his name may be just the beginning of a messy online saga.