If someone like The Wizard Liz – powerful, beautiful, self-aware and with clear boundaries – can be betrayed, what hope do the rest of us have? This is the question that many girls raised when they were introduced to the story of the influencer who has been making the rounds of the network in recent days.
For days, social media has been "flaming" with the news that Liz, the YouTuber known for her self-help videos and promoting the independence of girls and women, has been betrayed by her fiancé, Landon Nickerson - while she is four months pregnant.
For many of her followers, this isn't just a public breakup. This is a personal blow. Liz has been the epitome of a woman who has done the "inner work," who sets high standards and accepts no less than she deserves. And now, this disappointment feels like a collective fracture, a painful reminder that perhaps no one is truly "safe."
But why is this story affecting so many people, beyond its closest followers?
1. Because it hit hard on our beliefs about love and emotional healing
Liz was a living example of how self-care, self-worth, and emotional boundaries lead to healthier relationships. So when she—of all women—was betrayed, many people felt like the very idea that healing protects against pain was crumbling.
A 2024 study in Psychology of Popular Media looked at exactly that: how betrayal by a public figure affects the emotions of followers. And the results showed that the more someone believes in ideal love or "soulmates," the more pain they experience when a betrayal occurs, even if it's just a "parasocial" connection — that is, a connection that exists only in the mind of the follower.
In Liz's case, she was more than an influencer: she was proof that "strong girls don't get betrayed." So when this happened, for many women and girls, the feeling was: If she was betrayed too, then what hope do we have?
But the truth is this: working on yourself doesn't save you from pain, but it gives you the strength to face it with dignity. And Liz herself showed this. She didn't try to justify or cover up the betrayal – but came out publicly, loudly and proudly.
2. Because it destroyed the illusion of the "safe partner"
Landon was seen by many as a “green flag.” He seemed loving, supportive, emotionally present — a model partner. And their breakup left many followers feeling disappointed, even betrayed by the very idea of ??secure relationships.
This is the effect of what researchers call "pre-loveshock" - an emotional shock comparable to a real breakup, although it happens to public figures. And the reactions are many: from bitterness, to self-blame, to open anger towards the character who "disappointed".
In Liz's case, many followers feel like they broke up themselves - because they had placed their hopes and fantasies on that relationship. And if he was the "dream partner" and still cheated, then what does it mean to be secure in love?
What can we learn from this story?
Instead of using this story to fuel our doubts about love, men, or ourselves, we can use it as a mirror to reflect. Here are some truths we can glean from this situation:
- No relationship is perfect, no matter how ideal it may seem from the outside.
- No woman is "immune" to pain, even if she is beautiful, smart, or self-aware.
- Betrayal doesn't happen because of you - but because of the one who decided to betray.
Ultimately, it's good to remember: Even the strongest women experience pain. But their strength isn't the absence of pain—it's how they deal with it.
Liz recently shared a moment from her son's ultrasound. She captioned the photos, "Mommy's little blessing," and thanked God for her son.
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Source: Forbes
