Pop star Harry Styles has addressed comments about his sexuality and dating relationships, addressing queerbaiting allegations for the first time.
In a candid interview with Rolling Stone, the “As It Was” singer explained why he had decided to keep his sexuality and love life to himself. “I’ve never talked about my life away from work publicly and found that it’s benefited me positively,” he said.
“There’s always going to be a version of a narrative, and I think I just decided I wasn’t going to spend the time trying to correct it or redirect it in some way,” he added.
Styles expressed that he didn’t think he should publicly explain his sexual identity, which has been the subject of rampant speculation in recent years, and said he is still figuring out his sexuality.
“Sometimes people say, ‘You’ve only publicly been with women,’ and I don’t think I’ve publicly been with anyone. If someone takes a picture of you with someone, it doesn’t mean you’re choosing to have a public relationship or something,” said the former One Direction member, who has been linked to actress Olivia Wilde since 2021.
Since he made his solo debut, Styles has publicly supported and celebrated the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to waving Pride flags at his performances, songs like “Medicine” contain inclusive lyrics, and the singer has become a genderless fashion icon.
However, the UK native has not publicly shared how he identifies, which has drawn criticism and negative comments.
In the interview with Rolling Stone, the Watermelon Sugar singer discussed his role in the new movie My Policemen. Styles plays a gay police officer who is forced to hide his sexuality in the 1950s.
The star said he was proud to represent a softer side of sex between two men, claiming: “So much of gay sex in film is two guys going at it, and it kind of removes the tenderness from it.”
“I would imagine, some people who watch it who were very much alive during this time when it was illegal to be gay, and [director Michael Grandage] wanted to show that it’s tender and loving and sensitive,” he went on.
However, fans slammed him, and social platforms like Twitter were filled with harsh comments against him. Some people said Styles shouldn’t speak for queer people while “refusing to claim the community” and that they didn’t need him.
