Lorde's boyfriend reveals downsides of fame

James Lowe says he misses his girlfriend Lorde in a new blog post. Photo/Norrie Montgomery

Grammy award-winner Lorde, 17, is planning an emotional reunion next month with her boyfriend at the California music festival Coachella after their longest separation yet, but the young photographer has spoken out about the downsides of his girlfriend's fame.

James Lowe, 25, who has spent the past eight weeks at home in Auckland while the teenage pop princess performs her sold out US tour, posted his thoughts online praising his superstar girlfriend but giving an insight into what success has heaped on the young couple.

In a blog post, he wrote: "I've experienced being a target of the tabloids, finding moments I thought I was in safe hands splattered all over the internet, being pushed and shoved, or watching others get pushed and shoved by paparazzi just to get what they think they're entitled to."

Lowe might be referring to photographs of the couple swimming at a North Shore beach appearing in gossip mags and on the website TMZ.com, or a recent scuffle at Auckland Airport between a media scrum and members of Lorde's family.

Despite his almost constant presence at Lorde's side since they started dating a year ago, Lowe is notoriously reluctant to emerge from the shadows - perhaps understandable given the barrage of cruel online abuse he's been subjected to.

But Lowe and Lorde have ignored it. "For all of this I have to thank the one I look up to the most. Who I admire the most. Who still fills the little voids I try to avoid," he wrote lovingly of his girlfriend.

Life without Ella, as James prefers to call her, has been tough.

"Currently she is on the opposite side of the world on tour. As much as I miss her, I couldn't be prouder of what she has achieved so far."

He admits he can't wait to see her show for himself.

However, he was reluctant to talk about their upcoming reunion. "Visiting my girlfriend is not what we should consider as news in this country," he said when I called.

Lowe has chronicled Lorde's astonishing rise to fame in photographs - "over 9000" he has claimed.

But the young snapper is focused on his own career. He has two upcoming photographic exhibitions in the pipeline, including one at a Wanganui gallery in October.

Despite their long break apart, Lorde's bond with her boyfriend is said to be rock solid.

But she is unlikely to put a ring on it anytime soon. The pop star dispelled recent media suggestions of an engagement.