369

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Fan Theory
Fan Theory: 369
Synonyms: 369 Merch Drop
Origin: Louis Tomlinson tweeted "369"
Fandom(s): Louis Tomlinson One Direction
Dates: (March 22, 2021 -)
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369 is a March 22, 2021, tweet by Louis Tomlinson that generated a lot of fan theories, especially from larries. Fans speculated that it was a date, or a reference to a song.

A popular guess was that "369" was a reference to Louis' song "Copy of a Copy of a Copy".

The Original Tweets

On March 22, 2021, a fan asked Louis Tomlinson, "any new tattoo in mind?"[1] Louis replied only a minute later with "369". As of November 2022, this tweet has 22.8K retweets, 13K quote tweets, and 146.3K likes.[2]

Another fan quote-tweeted the original tweet on March 30 and added "explain pls 👁️👄👁️".[3] Louis responded again within a few minutes, saying only "369". As of November 2022, this tweet has 25.1K retweets, 19.1K quote tweets, and 163.5K likes.[4]

Early Theories

The "Copy of a Copy of a Copy" theory was the most prevalent. Larries thought that the number series 3-6-9 could be a reference to the title of Louis' song "Copy of a Copy of a Copy". For example, a larrie on tumblr shared a screenshot of a tweet with the text "I just realised 369 is a copy of a copy of a copy" and added in the tags by way of explanation, "#like you got 3 then 3+3=6 and 3+3+3=9 #I’m bad at maths but it adds up I guess gahsjk".[5] As of November 2022 the tumblr post has 343 notes and was reblogged by well-known larries like twopoppies.[6] (The original tweet was deleted.)

Some larries think that the song "Copy of a Copy of a Copy" is about Larry. For example, in response to a twitter larrie's theory that "Copy of a Copy of a Copy" was the third in a series of stunt songs(?)[7], tumblr larrie twopoppies replied, "Hm. I mean... I do think COACOAC is about the industry and closeting."[8] Tumblr larrie fromtheglasscloset posted something similar, listing quotes from other singers who had stayed in the closet while in an active boyband in a post titled It’s a copy of a copy of a copy.[9] The Larry connection might be why larries were excited by the possible association between 369 and "Copy of a Copy of a Copy".

Many Larries also speculated that it was a reference to the One Direction song "18" because 3+6+9=18. ("18" is a song that larries associate with Larry. One of the lyrics is "I have loved you since we were 18", and Louis was 18 when the band formed. Harry was 16. Harry and/or Louis apparently also serenaded each other during concerts with that song.[citation needed]) Another theory Larries came up with was that it was a reference to a 2019 Harry Styles tweet where a fan asked him how many songs would be on his album and he responded "863."[10] Larries noted that if the number were reversed it would be 368 and thought Louis might have been intentionally referencing Harry's "863" tweet but thought it was still too obvious so he added one.

Other fans thought it might mean that he has 369 tattoo ideas or he wants to get 369 tattoos. Some fans considered that he actually wanted to get the number "369" tattooed on himself.

Some thought it might be the "369 Manifestation Method."[11] Or that he might be talking about numerology because 369 means compassion, idealism and creative expression in numerology. Or that it might be a reference to the quote by Nikola Tesla: “If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have the key to the universe.”[12] A tumblr thread started by skepticalarrie tried to use Fibonacci sequences to connect 369, 28, Louis's merch design, and triangles.[13] (Louis has a triangle tattoo, which larries believe is meant to be a reference to the LGBTQ+ symbol.)

Some fans thought it might be a code. They tried to apply it to letters: 3=C, 6=F, 9=I, so you get CFI or old phone style 3=D/E/F, 6=M/N/O, 9=W/X/Y/Z. Neither of these proved to be very conclusive and most people abandoned that line of thinking pretty quickly.

tweets about 369 on March 26, 2022

Some groups thought that 369 might have something to do with a year and four days. 369 days after the original tweet, on March 26, 2022, many twitter fans commented on the date, some anticipating a resolution to the mystery. Louis tweeted about his new album Faith in the Future on this date, and many fans tried to find a connection.

Jokes about it

A couple of people joked that he wanted to say "69" but didn't because he knew it would cause an uproar.[14] Or that: #he dropped his phone on his face and his nose was thinking about 69ing 3 days in a row#369. Others joked that they think it's just a random number and that he's messing with everybody to distract the fandom from asking for selfies from him.[citation needed]

One person said it made them think of the clapping song that goes "3 6 9 the goose drank wine" while another said it made them think of the lyrics from Get Low, "369 damn you fine."[14]

Other fans said that they thought he dropped something on his keyboard by mistake.[citation needed]

Memes

bluewinnerangel, who compiled the 369 theories masterpost, said that since Louis was bringing 369 back they would bring back this song: 

"3, 6, 9, stand real fine
 Move it to you suck it to me one mo time
 Get low, get low, get low, get low
 To the window, to the wall
 To the sweat drop down my balls
 To all you bitches, crawl
 To all skee skee, motherfucker"[14]

While another fan hilariously decided to modify it to fit songs in the fandom: 

"369, 
 DAMN YOU A FINE LINE 
 WHY YOU DONT YOU GIVE it to me one mo time 
 Get low, get low, HANDS ON YOUR WAIST LETS GO 
 To the windowSILL, 
  to the WALLS THAT CAME UP SHORT 
 To the sweat drop down my DIRTY LAUNDRY 
 To all you KNUCKLES CRAWLING CROSS THE FLOOR 
 To all skee skee, mfker"[15]

Many fans jokingly decided that this was the real answer and that it was perfect. Others said that it was exactly what they expected from one of the people behind Rainbow Bondage Bear (Larries believe that Harry and Louis are responsible for Rainbow Bondage Bear).

Several weeks before the "369" tweet, Louis replied to a fan on twitter with, "You lot read into things too much".[16] Many Larries, who believe that Louis is embedding coded messages in everything because he is being forcibly closeted but wants to come out, were inspired by this tweet to post memes about their own 369 theorizing. For example, the butterfly meme where instead of the butterfly it was that tweet and the text under read, "Is this a challenge?"[17]

Louis: you guys read into things too much!

Also Louis: okay so you’ve got to figure out my next album release date using the angle of the sun, this drawing of a pigeon and my exact coordinates from last Thursday.. your clue is 369 good luck xo[18]

369 Merch Drop

On April 27, 2021, a merch collection titled "369 Drop" was briefly visible on Louis' merch site. (An April 23, 2021 Wayback Machine copy of the site is available, but nothing for the 27th.) Twitter update accounts like HL Daily and The Kings Updates immediately reported it[19][20], and fans connected it to Louis' tweets. The larrylimericks blog posted, 

A “369 Drop” teaser was found
When an image went live then came down.
Are we getting soon
New merch? A new tune?
It's 28th eve and time to clown.[21]

April 27 was also 28 days after Louis' second "369" tweet. The number 28 is significant for larries, and many fans tweeted about the numbers 28 and 369 and what they might mean.

[sambuckylilo]

Louis loves making us detectives with the whole cryptic 369 sh!t and 28

I think its just a ploy to make us keep being detectives then eventually (people who arent) look into larry and believe it

Does this make sense?? Probably not 😭✋[22]

[vaaleriagtz6]

O el equipo de louis está bien pendejo o lo están haciendo a propósito 👀[23]

[loui_oi_oiii]

Contexto por fa, estuvo desconectada[24]

[medina_valezka]

La pagina de Merch de Louis actualizo una nueva secciĂłn que se llamaba "369 Drop" o algo asĂ­, pero cuando se cargo de la pĂĄgina esta desapareciĂł y pues ya sabemos que Louis hace 28 dias hizo el tweet donde puso 369 y pues maĂąana es 28, y Louis sabemos que ama el 8i[25]

[THEOIOIII]

ITS THE 28TH TOMORROW AND 28 DAYS SINCE HE TWEETED 369 WHY IS HE LIKE THIS OMFG-[26]

[94ALWAYSLOUIS]

why is everyone talking about 369 again what did i miss[27]

[lukescurlsgfz]

basically people think louis is going to release the merch tommorow bc it's the 28th of april and it's been 28 days since he tweeted 369 AND we figured that 369=copy of a copy of a copy[28]

On April 28, one day after the collection became visible, the merch was available. There was a lot of speculation over what the merch might mean or stand for.

There were also more memes this time about how tiring all the speculations were and how Louis now preferred the number "369" over his former iconic number of "28" which he does have tattooed on his body.

It also spawned the limerick, 

 Lou accuses us of over-reading
 Then drops 28 new products, feeding
 Us with numbers and codes,
 Symbols, patterns, moon odes,
 Leaving our brains and our wallets bleeding.[29]

Fannish Links

References

  1. ^ tweet by sottloui, Archived version, 22 March 2021.
  2. ^ tweet by Louis Tomlinson, Archived version, 22 March 2021. (Accessed 18 November 2022.)
  3. ^ tweet by donnyaccent, Archived version, 30 March 2021.
  4. ^ tweet by Louis_Tomlinson, Archived version, 30 March 2021.
  5. ^ this makes sense we’re so dumb, Archived version, tumblr post by earthfairylou, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  6. ^ reblog by twopoppies, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  7. ^ tweet by brightannegold, Archived version, 24 Apr 2022. (Accessed 20 November 2022.)
  8. ^ ask by ificouldflyhome369 answered by twopoppies, Archived version, 24 April 2022. (Accessed 20 November 2022.)
  9. ^ It’s a copy of a copy of a copy, Archived version, by fromtheglasscloset, 29 September 2021. As of 20 November 2022, this tumblr post has 870 notes.
  10. ^ tweet by Harry Styles, Archived version, 5 November 2019. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  11. ^ Example tweets: 369 is also a manifestation method? and louis the other day said "watch this space" as manifestation for his project?? mhmmm someone has been getting into the art of manifestation i like it, Archived version, by steIIouIas, 22 March 2021. I FIGURED IT OUT ISN'T THERE A MANIFESTATION METHOD THAT USES THE NUMBERS 369??? LOUIS IS MANIFESTING FOR SOMETHING, Archived version, by goIdenxxsun, 30 March 2021. it just hit me that 369 is a manifestation method. LOUIS IS THAT WHAT YOUVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL US???? YOURE MANIFESTING?????, Archived version, by DAYDREAMTPWK, 7 April 2021. (Accessed 20 November 2022.)
  12. ^ Example of a larrie tweeting about the Tesla connection: tweet by clowning28, Archived version, 30 March 2021. (Accessed 20 November 2022.)
  13. ^ tumblr thread started by skepticalarrie and reblogged by twopoppies, Archived version, 28 April 2021. As of 20 November 2022, this tumblr post has 592 notes.
  14. ^ a b c reblog by bluewinnerangel, Archived version, 31 March 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  15. ^ reblog by bluewinnerangel, Archived version, 31 March 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  16. ^ tweet by Louis Tomlinson, Archived version, 26 January 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  17. ^ tumblr post by bluewinnerangel, Archived version, April 27 2021. Tagged: #369 mfer get out #369 #Memes
  18. ^ tumblr post by justascrollingghost, Archived version. 28 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  19. ^ 🚨 This 369 collection was briefly shown on Louis’ merch website, although it has now been taken down. Hopefully this means new merch is dropping soon!, Archived version, tweet by UpdateHLD, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  20. ^ 🚨 ‘369’ appears as a collection on Louis’ website!, Archived version, tweet by KingsUpdatesHL, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  21. ^ tumblr post by larrylimericks, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  22. ^ tweet by sambuckylilo, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  23. ^ tweet by vaaleriagtz6, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  24. ^ tweet by loui_oi_oiii, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  25. ^ tweet by medina_valezka, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  26. ^ tweet by THEOIOIII, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  27. ^ tweet by 94ALWAYSLOUIS, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  28. ^ tweet by lukescurlsgfz, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
  29. ^ tumblr post by larrylimericks, Archived version, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
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