A shirtless Harry Styles [1] may be relaxing and enjoying his time by the pool, but fellow bandmate Liam Payne is in a lot of hot water right now, and we're not talking about the Jacuzzi. Liam ran into trouble over the weekend when he tweeted at Duck Dynasty castmember Willie Robertson. If you remember, the show was hit by controversy back in December, when patriarch Phil Robertson made a series of homophobic comments [2]. After Liam's tweet, Twitter and the rest of the Internet was immediately up in arms, claiming that Liam was supporting Phil's antigay sentiments. Here's the tweet in question:

@williebosshog [3] huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities and the family values you still all behold. big fan

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 18, 2014 [4]

OK, so it looks pretty bad, right? It's worth mentioning, though, that Liam Payne has never expressed any homophobic tendencies himself. Isn't it possible Liam tweeted his enthusiasm about a show he liked, without implying that he, too, was homophobic? After all, there are quite a few companies that don't support gay rights [5], and we don't say all their shoppers are homophobes. It's also worth remembering that Liam's front and center in a spotlight with the rest of the One Direction boys right now. As a 20-year-old just trying to find his way, he is in a constant battle for his privacy, as mentioned in tweets from last week.

I know my friends have tweeted a lot of pictures of my house the past few days but can people please stop coming and waiting outside

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 14, 2014 [6]

I'd just like to be able to walk outside as everyone does and enjoy time with my friends, not feel bad for not wanting to take a picture

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 14, 2014 [7]

Not to mention back in October, a wild fan stole Liam's boxers [8] from his hotel balcony in Australia. Other tweets show Liam's not really one to think about the greater implications of his actions, or even his tweets, in the moment.

You may have seen a photo of me today taken on top of a building. I regret being there and having a photo taken.

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 14, 2014 [9]

It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am sorry, and do not endorse any fans trying to repeat this, as it is extremely dangerous.

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 14, 2014 [10]

All this could mean that Liam was just expressing his support for a show he enjoys, without all the greater implications of homophobia. Do we even know for sure that the Duck Dynasty scandal was on Liam's radar? Regardless of what he actually meant, here's how he reacted to the backlash:

Oh my god can someone literally not be a fan if a show without bring labeled WTf I bought dinner the other day it made a news story

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 19, 2014 [11]

What I gotta do to please you bastards I'm a 20 year old just living life as you did when u where twenty but in extraordinary circumstances

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 19, 2014 [12]

And I know I'm playing into your hands writing these tweets but I'm sick of stupid stories it's time you all grow up

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 19, 2014 [13]

And write about things that actually matter not what im gunna have for dinner tomorrow or who I'm a fan if real stories

— Liam Payne (@Real_Liam_Payne) January 19, 2014 [14]

His rant probably wasn't the most appropriate reaction. Then again, it's hard to say we wouldn't be just as frustrated in Liam's shoes.