We have all be on the journey of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s love story since they first fell for each other in 2009 on the set of The Last Song.
Over the last 10 years they’ve grown up together, through The Hunger Games, through Miley’s Bangerz phase, through break ups, reunions, highs and lows. We’ve watched their 10-year journey towards being the picture of smitten newly-weds that we see now, and we’re invested.
At least I am.
Maybe it’s because Liam Hemsworth is our Aussie golden boy, or maybe it’s because I am forever bound to Miley by my love for Hannah Montana, but this relationship brings me substantial second-hand joy.
Watching them dance barefoot by the Christmas tree at their low-key wedding is almost unbearably cute. Reading the intimate details of their relationship in Miley’s adorable birthday tribute to Liam is almost painfully lovely.
Seeing Miley step in at Liam’s premiere for his movie, Isn’t It Romantic, and reading the mutual adoration in their comments, is just so sweet I experience an extreme rush of blood to the head and a sugar high.
So proud of my hunky hubby @liamhemsworth & his newest movie #IsntItRomantic ❤️ He unfortunately wasn’t able to attend due to health reasons… but he is recovering and taking this time to rest / heal. It’s hard for entertainers to put themselves before the project but this time pic.twitter.com/eO6ZmfcOsw
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) February 12, 2019
it was crucial …. I am proud to represent him and his incredible work. So happy to see him shining in this comedy! He is the funniest person I know , and the world now gets to see the Liam I wake up to every day…. luckiest ?
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) February 12, 2019
Their happily-ever-after vibes are intoxicating and I’m drunk in love.
Sorry I couldn’t make it to the @isntitromantic premier last night guys. Been dealing with some pretty annoying health stuff the last couple days. Lucky I have the best girl in the world to represent for me! Thanks for the support babe! pic.twitter.com/lcit8Nz3CY
— Liam Hemsworth (@LiamHemsworth) February 12, 2019
The more wonderful their relationship appears, the more distress creeps into the euphoria it incites. Miley and Liam are the current ‘it’ couple, but you can’t shake that feeling of fragility, because we’ve been here before.
That’s the problem with getting invested in ‘fave’ Hollywood couples – there are no guarantees. We’re not actually a part of their relationship (even though it can feel that way), so they may make decisions or go in a direction that doesn’t fit into the fantasy we wanted.
Nothing demonstrates this bittersweet predicament better than the recent demise of two celebrity couples considered the ‘perfect’ matches: Chris Pratt and Anna Faris, and Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.
Watching these couples not just break up, but move on, invoked widespread devastation among fans (guilty). Getting invested in the love lives of strangers is a dangerous game and sometimes you lose.
Why I’m crying today-
Just remembered Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan aren’t together anymore
— meg (@meganpribil) February 12, 2019
That is why the heart-warmingly lovely, happily-ever-after that is 2019 Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth also kind of makes me want to throw up. Right now they represent to me, and a lot of fans, an inspiring example of how love can work out. Their narrative is perfect for its flaws and eventual happy ending, and it’s one we’ve been invested in for 10 years.
Every time they do something cute, my stake in their happiness grows. But we all know the unpromising success rate of marriages in Hollywood, and that’s what makes it stressful. It’s a risky investment.
So let’s just pray that Miley and Liam are in it for the long haul and we don’t have to deal with the true absurdity of our investment in strangers’ relationships.