The Project hosts slammed over 'uncomfortable' interview: 'Do better'

Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson took a swipe at The Project hosts Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar while appearing on the program on Wednesday night.

Louis was promoting his world tour as a solo artist after he split from the band six years ago when the hosts started digging into his time in One Direction.

The questions come after former bandmate Liam Payne spoke out about tension within the band on Logan Paul's Impaulsive podcast.

Louis was asked about his time in the band, to which he said he was "immensely proud" of it, before he dodged questions about Liam's claims.

"There's been a bit of 1D beef recently thanks to Liam who has been speaking out about the band a little bit. When you look back on your experience with the band, how do you feel about those days?" Peter asked.

Louis replied: "So the fishing has begun already! Yeah, I see what you are doing."

"Listen, I am immensely proud, as I know Liam is. Immensely proud of those days, obviously. It was an incredible thing to do and at a young age. Amazing memories."

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Carrie then probed further, asking how much he wanted to discuss that time in his life with the media off the back of his comment "the fishing has begun".

Louis said he was happy to talk about One Direction as he was again "immensely proud", but accused the hosts of trying to cause drama.

"It's just when you mentioned the beef before it sounded like you were getting ready to stir some s**t up, that's all," he said.

Peter then defended himself saying he wasn't a s**t stirrer.

"Do I look like a s**t stirrer?" he asked.

Host Waleed Aly then took the interview in a different direction as he asked Louis whether he was incensed about the announcement Texas University was launching a course on his former bandmate Harry Styles.

"That should be you, shouldn't it?" Waleed asked before Louis laughed and shook his head.

"I don't really have any interest in a course being made about me to be fair, but each to their own," he said.

"It's a very strange thing not to be interested in," Waleed joked.

Louis hit back that Waleed sounded very interested and maybe he should sign up for the course.

"Just quietly Louis I may have designed that course," Waleed said.

Fans slam 'uncomfortable" interview

Following the interview, fans hit out at The Project hosts for their line of questioning.

"I don’t understand why you need to ask such unnecessary questions. This was supposed to be about Louis' solo career not about his life back in 1D nor including topics you know will stir drama. Do better," one commented on Twitter.

"Could you guys maybe focus more on his new album coming up and world tour? I mean, most of the interview was focused on 1D, and since it's something that died like 6 years ago, it would be great to hear more about him personally," another said.

"Louis handled it with absolute humour, grace and class, but maybe go work for TMZ if you want to do 'gotcha' journalism," a third added.

"The way you haven't been capable of moving on from the 1D phase and kept asking about a band that doesn't exist anymore and also preferred to ask about someone else's career instead of asking real questions about HIS career and HIS projects, you made him so uncomfortable," somebody else commented.

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