Lorde's boyfriend breaks his silence on dating a superstar - and how it felt to be branded 'ugly' by internet trolls
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As the boyfriend of two-time Grammy winner Lorde, James Lowe has experienced all the ups and downs of fame, but he's determined not to let it get to him
The 24-year-old photographer from Auckland, New Zealand, writes on his blog Ono Field that dating the singer - whose given name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor - has been something of a whirlwind.
'My life is probably a lot different now,' he admits. 'But it feels normal on the inside.'
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In the shadow of Lorde: James Lowe (left), Lorde's 24-year-old photographer boyfriend, who lives in New Zealand, has opened up about all the ups and downs of dating a Grammy-winning superstar
Long-distance: 'As much as I miss her, I couldn't be prouder of what she has achieved so far,' he said of his girlfriend (pictured performing in Michigan last week), who is currently touring the U.S.
He then goes on to contemplate fame and its effect on his life with his girlfriend. 'Jared Leto said that fame doesn't change you, it changes everyone around you,' he writes.
'While I'm not the center of attention here (and f***, the times I have [been], it's never been fun), I do become aware of the people around me and their transparency.'
Mr Lowe, who reportedly worked for Lorde as a photographer before the pair began dating, has indeed been the subject of some hateful and racist internet attention in the past.
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ShareLast summer, after a rumor surfaced that the singer had called Justin Bieber and One Direction 'ugly', the pop stars' fans took to Twitter to direct their hate at her boyfriend, who is of Asian descent.
One internet troll wrote: 'Your boyfriend is ugly as f*** you f****** b****!' Another said: 'Lorde says 1D and Justin are ugly? LOOK AT YOUR F****** UGLY BOYFRIEND! HE IS SKINNY AND UGLY LOLZ!!'
'I'm not completely impervious to insult - I'm a human being'
Even rapper Tyler the Creator got in on the nasty jokes, posting a picture of the couple on Instagram with the caption: 'Hahahahahah'.
The singer responded to the rapper via Twitter, writing plainly: 'Was this supposed to make me feel something?'
She spoke out about the vitriole in an interview with Rolling Stone, explaining that while she knew that intellectually, the commenters are 'the type of people who use the word f****t as an insult,' it still hurts.
Hard times: Mr Lowe, who reportedly worked for Lorde as a photographer before they began dating, has been the subject of some hateful and racist internet attention in the past
Bearing the brunt: Last summer, after a rumor surfaced that Lorde had called Justin Bieber and One Direction 'ugly', the pop stars' fans took to Twitter to direct their hate at her boyfriend
'[I'm] not completely impervious to insult,' she said. 'I'm a human being.'
For his part, Mr Lowe realizes it comes with the territory. 'I've experienced being a target of the tabloids,' he writes.
'As much as I miss her, I couldn't be prouder of what she has achieved so far'
'Finding moments I thought I was in safe hands splattered all over the internet, being pushed and shoved, or watching others get pushed and shoved by paparazzi just to get what they think they're entitled to.'
But despite the tough times and negative attention that comes with having a girlfriend in the spotlight, he can't help but be incredibly proud.
'Since originally sitting down to write this post, Ella has become a two time Grammy winner,' he writes. 'She has taken home a Brit too. Currently she is on the opposite side of the world on tour.
Happy couple: But despite the negative attention that comes with having a girlfriend in the spotlight, he can't help but be incredibly proud of her
Glass half full: 'There is a bright, shining silver lining to this thing I've been exposed to,' he writes. 'For all of this I have to thank the one I look up to the most. Who I admire the most'
'As much as I miss her, I couldn't be prouder of what she has achieved so far,' he adds.
And stardom has its perks as well as its downfalls - all of which he gets to share with the person he loves. 'There is a bright, shining silver lining to this thing I've been exposed to,' he writes.
'I've been able to tell tales of the many amazing people I've met along the way – from fellow photographers, to artists I've always admired and never thought I'd get to meet.
'I've found a little inspiration from new faces. People I look up to. People whose work I admire so much. For all of this I have to thank the one I look up to the most. Who I admire the most.'
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