369

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?", 22 March 2021. 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., 22 March 2021. (Accessed 18 November 2022.)
Another fan quote-tweeted the original tweet on March 30 and added "explain pls 👁️👄👁️"., 30 March 2021. 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., 30 March 2021.
==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"., tumblr post by earthfairylou, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.) As of November 2022 the tumblr post has 343 notes and was reblogged by well-known larries like twopoppies., 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.) (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(?), 24 Apr 2022. (Accessed 20 November 2022.), tumblr larrie twopoppies replied, "Hm. I mean... I do think COACOAC is about the industry and closeting.", 24 April 2022. (Accessed 20 November 2022.) 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., by fromtheglasscloset, 29 September 2021. As of 20 November 2022, this tumblr post has 870 notes. 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.) 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.", 5 November 2019. (Accessed 19 November 2022.) 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."Example tweets: , by steIIouIas, 22 March 2021. , by goIdenxxsun, 30 March 2021. , by DAYDREAMTPWK, 7 April 2021. (Accessed 20 November 2022.) 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.”Example of a larrie tweeting about the Tesla connection: , 30 March 2021. (Accessed 20 November 2022.) A tumblr thread started by skepticalarrie tried to use Fibonacci sequences to connect 369, 28, Louis's merch design, and triangles., 28 April 2021. As of 20 November 2022, this tumblr post has 592 notes. (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.
thumb|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.
* - hazloveslouis28
* - snflwrdress28
* - hobiglowup
===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. 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.
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."
 
Other fans said that they thought he dropped something on his keyboard by mistake.
====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", 31 March 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
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", 31 March 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
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"., 26 January 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.) 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?", April 27 2021. Tagged: #369 mfer get out #369 #Memes
==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, tweet by UpdateHLD, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.), tweet by KingsUpdatesHL, 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.), 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., 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
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.
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., 27 April 2021. (Accessed 19 November 2022.)
==Fannish Links==
*, masterpost of theories by tumblr user bluewinnerangel (March 22, 2021)
* (April 29, 2021)
==References==
Category:One Direction
Category:One Direction Fandom Glossary
Category:2021 Twitter
Category:2021 Events