If you’ve spent any time on the weird, dark corners of TikTok or Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen two names shoved together that have absolutely no business being in the same sentence: Grace VanderWaal and Daniel Larson.
It’s a bizarre, unsettling "crossover" that has confused thousands of people. On one side, you have a genuine musical prodigy who won America's Got Talent at twelve years old. On the other, you have a homeless internet personality—often referred to as a "lolcow"—who has spent years spiraling through severe mental health crises and legal battles.
Honestly, the internet is great at turning tragedy into memes, but the "connection" between these two is actually a pretty sobering look at how parasocial relationships can turn dangerous.
There is no real relationship
Let's clear the air immediately. There is no friendship. There is no collaboration. There is definitely no "dating" going on.
Grace VanderWaal does not know Daniel Larson. The entire narrative exists solely within the delusions of Larson and the chaotic echo chambers of his "management" and "fans." For years, Larson has claimed to be in contact with VanderWaal, often insisting they are engaged or that her "team" is communicating with him. None of it is true.
It’s all part of a larger pattern where internet trolls—many of whom are teenagers with way too much free time—pretend to be Grace or her representatives to manipulate Larson.
They send him fake texts. They set up fake emails. They even use AI voice filters to make him believe he’s on the phone with her. It’s a mess.
Who is Daniel Larson, anyway?
For those lucky enough to have avoided this rabbit hole until now, Daniel Larson is a social media figure known for his "outsider music" and incredibly erratic behavior. He first gained traction on TikTok around 2020. Since then, his life has been a public documentation of homelessness, public meltdowns, and increasingly serious legal issues.
In early 2024, the situation took a massive turn when Larson was arrested on federal charges. He was accused of making bomb threats against government buildings, including the White House.
He's currently in a legal and psychiatric limbo.
The obsession with Grace is a core part of his online history. He frequently posts about her as if she’s his girlfriend, a fixation that has led to him being labeled a stalker by her fanbase.
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The darker side of the Grace VanderWaal obsession
While some people find the Larson situation "funny" or treat it like a long-running reality show, it’s actually pretty terrifying for the person on the other side.
Imagine being a young woman trying to transition from a child star to a serious musician and actress—which Grace has done successfully with projects like Stargirl and her recent album Childstar—only to have your comment sections flooded with references to a man you’ve never met who thinks he’s marrying you.
It's a heavy burden.
Grace’s fans have spent years trying to report the accounts that fuel this fire. The problem is that the "Daniel Larson community" is built on irony and "trolling." People enjoy the chaos, and they don't always think about the real-world safety implications.
Why this keeps popping up in 2026
You’d think that with Larson being in custody, the story would die down. It hasn’t.
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- Old videos resurfacing: Clips of Larson’s "confessions" to Grace regularly go viral on TikTok's algorithm.
- The "Management" lore: Discord servers dedicated to Larson still discuss his fixation as part of his "lore."
- The contrast: The visual and lifestyle difference between Grace’s high-fashion, artistic life and Larson’s chaotic footage creates a "glitch in the matrix" feel that people find addictive.
Basically, the internet loves a train wreck, even when the wreck is hurting real people.
What actually happened with the "Lawsuits"?
You might see "leaked" documents or headlines about Grace suing Daniel. Most of these are fake. While it’s highly likely her legal team has been involved behind the scenes to protect her privacy and safety, there hasn't been a public, high-profile civil suit.
Most of the legal action has been criminal, handled by the state or federal government due to Larson's threats and public disturbances.
Grace has handled the situation with an incredible amount of grace—pun intended. She rarely acknowledges him publicly. This is the gold standard for dealing with stalkers or delusional individuals: zero engagement.
Any mention she makes only feeds the fire.
The takeaway for everyone watching
It’s easy to get lost in the "lolcow" culture. It’s easy to treat people’s lives like they are just pixels on a screen. But the Grace VanderWaal and Daniel Larson saga is a reminder that there are real stakes.
Larson is a man who clearly needs intensive psychiatric help, and Grace is a professional artist who deserves to exist without being tethered to someone else’s delusions.
If you want to support Grace, the best thing you can do is engage with her actual work. Listen to her music. Watch her films. Don't engage with the memes that bridge her name with Larson's.
Practical next steps for staying informed
If you're following this story, here is how to navigate it responsibly:
- Verify sources: If you see a "statement from Grace" regarding Larson, check her official Instagram or Twitter first. If it's not there, it's probably a troll edit.
- Report harassment: If you see "fans" tagging Grace in Larson-related content, report it. It helps keep her social media a space for her career rather than a circus.
- Understand the law: Recognize that mental health and the legal system move slowly. The federal charges against Larson are serious and won't be resolved in a "TikTok minute."
Ultimately, the best way to "end" the connection between these two is to stop talking about them as if they are part of the same story. They aren't. One is a career; the other is a crisis.