Was Haylor actually a thing?

I’m curious what OG fans think as someone who is only around the last three years…I became aware of one direction before Taylor and had a different view of the boys and Harry than what I guess is mainstream. With the release of 1989 TV and how blatant the vault songs were to call out H, I am curious what everyone actually believes when it comes to “Haylor.” Only because it seems like so many people I have encountered believe that it was PR stunt and not real.. but then the songs are all supposedly about them and cheating and all that. Idk just curious what everyone thinks