Harry Edward Styles (born 1 February 1994) is an English singer, songwriter, and actor. His showmanship, artistry, and flamboyant fashion have hada significant impact on popular culture.
Styles's musical career began in 2010 as part ofOne Direction, a boy band formed on the British music competition seriesThe X Factor after each member of the band had been eliminated from the solo contest. They became one of thebest-selling boy bands of all time before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Styles released hiseponymous debut solo album throughErskine andColumbia Records in 2017. It debuted at number one in the UK and the US and was one of the world's top-ten best-selling albums of the year, while its lead single, "Sign of the Times", topped theUK Singles Chart.
Harry Edward Styles was born on 1 February 1994 inRedditch, Worcestershire, England,[c][2] the son of pub owner[3] Anne Twist (née Selley) and finance worker Desmond "Des" Styles.[4][5][6] When he was a child, he moved with his parents and older sister, Gemma, to the village ofHolmes Chapel inCheshire.[4] His parents divorced when he was seven years old. His mother later married her business partner John Cox,[7] although they divorced years later. Through her subsequent marriage in 2013 to Robin Twist, who died of cancer in 2017, Styles gained an older stepbrother Mike, and a stepsister, Amy.[8]
Styles described his upbringing as a "great childhood" and recalled always feeling supported by his parents.[5] As a child, he sang covers on akaraoke machine he was given by his grandfather, and the first song he recorded wasElvis Presley's "The Girl of My Best Friend".[9] Styles attended theHolmes Chapel Comprehensive School,[10] where he was the lead singer for the band White Eskimo, which won a local Battle of the Bands competition.[10][11] At the age of 16, he took on part-time work at the W. Mandeville Bakery in Holmes Chapel.[11] During his adolescence, he also delivered newspapers and worked at a stable, mucking out horses.[12]
Styles (left) with One Direction onThe X Factor Live Tour in 2011
Following a suggestion from his mother, on 11 April 2010, Styles auditioned as a solo contestant for theseventh series of the British televised singing competitionThe X Factor, singing a rendition ofTrain's "Hey, Soul Sister". AfterSimon Cowell suggested that the track was not right for him, he instead sang a rendition ofStevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely".[5][13] He advanced to bootcamp but failed to progress further. Four others in his age group who were also eliminated were put together to form a boy band in July 2010 to compete in the "Groups" category, mentored by Cowell.[14] The group consisting of Styles,Niall Horan,Liam Payne,Louis Tomlinson, andZayn Malik practised for two weeks;[15][16] Styles suggested the name One Direction to his colleagues which they agreed to.[17] They began to gain considerable popularity in the UK,[18] and within the first four weeks of the live shows, were Cowell's last contestant in the competition.[19] The group eventually reached the final ofThe X Factor and became the last contestant eliminated on the show.[20]
Not wanting to "exhaust" the fan base, upon Styles's suggestion, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, after completing promotional activities related toMade in the A.M.[5][35][36] Since their debut, One Direction have sold 70 million records worldwide, including 7.6 million albums and 26 million singles in the US, becoming one of thebest-selling boy bands of all time.[32][37][38] The group amassednumerous accolades, including sevenBrit Awards,[39] sevenAmerican Music Awards,[40] sixBillboard Music Awards,[41] and fourMTV Video Music Awards.[42] While Styles has been generally positive about his time in One Direction, he has revealed that the hyper-visibility he experienced while being in the band was not always easy to deal with.[43] Styles attributed his avoidance of social media to past pressure that he should be constantly accessible online.[43][44] He has spoken about being scared of saying the wrong things in interviews and of fear that not answering questions such as the number of people he slept with would cause journalists to leave the interview annoyed with him.[43] His contracts with One Direction contained "cleanliness clauses" which stated that the group would be "null and void" if he did not obey them.[43] He expressed that he "burst into tears" when he signed a solo contract without these clauses because he felt "free."[43]
Styles's debut studio album,Harry Styles, was released in May 2017,[59] whereupon it debuted at number one in several countries, including Australia, the UK and the US.[60] The record was influenced by 1970s soft rock and was described byVariety as a "classic cocktail of psychedelia, Britpop, and balladry."[61][62] It received generally favourable reviews from critics[63][64] and was included in several publications' lists of the best albums of 2017.[65][66][67]Harry Styles yielded two more singles, "Two Ghosts" and "Kiwi".[68][69] The filmHarry Styles: Behind the Album, which documented the writing and recording process for the album, was released in May exclusively onApple Music.[70] Styles embarked on his first headlining concert tour,Harry Styles: Live on Tour, from September 2017 through to July 2018, performing in North and South Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.[71][72] During the tour, Styles debuted two unreleased songs, "Anna" and "Medicine".[73]
In July 2019, it was reported that Styles was in early talks to playPrince Eric in the live-action Disney filmThe Little Mermaid (2023).[88] He ultimately turned the part down for various reasons which included touring and wanting to pursue darker roles.[89][90][91] "Lights Up", the lead single from Styles's second album,Fine Line, was released in October 2019, debuting at number three in the UK.[92][93] The song featured a "soft-touch re-entry into the pop slipstream", according to music writerJon Caramanica.[94] Styles served as both host and musical guest onSaturday Night Live in November.[95] The second single precedingFine Line, "Adore You", was released in December, peaking at number seven in the UK and number six in the US.[96][97][98] That month, Styles again guest-hostedThe Late Late Show with James Corden.[99]
Fine Line was released on 13 December. The album was recorded at theShangri-La studio inMalibu, California, with the same production team behind Styles's debut album, and features a similar sound toHarry Styles while also incorporating elements of funk and soul.[100][101] It received generally positive reviews from critics.[102] The album peaked at number two in the UK[103] and topped the US charts, breaking the record as the biggest sales debut from an English male artist in the US sinceNielsen SoundScan began electronically tracking sales data in 1991.[104]Rolling Stone ranked it at number 491 in their 2020 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[105] Five other singles, "Falling", "Watermelon Sugar", "Golden", "Treat People with Kindness", andthe title track, were released from the album.[106] "Watermelon Sugar" became Styles's fourth UK top-ten single, peaking at number four,[107] as well as his first number-one single in the US.[108] A tour to supportFine Line, entitledLove On Tour, which was originally set to take place throughout 2020,[109] was postponed until 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[110][111]
In 2022, Styles achieved critical and commercial success with his third album,Harry's House.[127][128] Its lead single, "As It Was", debuted atop the UK and US charts, becoming his second solo number-one single in both countries.[129][130] In the US, it became thefourth-longest-running number-one in history, at 15 weeks.[131] The album similarly debuted atop the UK and US charts.[132][133] DuringHarry's House's release week, Styles occupied the top spot of the album and singles charts in over fifteen countries, withHarry's House and "As It Was".[128] With four tracks from the album concurrently charting within the US top 10, he became the first British solo artist to achieve this feat.[134] Styles headlined theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April to a crowd of over 100,000 people.[135] In June 2022, Styles and the single "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" were featured in anAirPods commercial.[136] The following month,Harry's House was short-listed for theMercury Prize.[137] "As It Was" became thenumber-one song of 2022 globally, according toBillboard.[138] At the2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Styles received three accolades, includingAlbum of the Year forHarry's House.[139] The album also won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the65th Grammy Awards,[140] and British Album of the Year at the43rd Brit Awards.[141] At the50th American Music Awards, Styles won Favorite Male Pop Artist and Favorite Pop Song ("As It Was").[142]Rolling Stone rankedHarry's House at number 491 on its 2023 revision of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.[143]
Scene fromMy Policeman (2022), featuring Styles as Tom Burgess andDavid Dawson as Patrick Hazlewood
Styles auditioned for the role of Elvis Presley inBaz Luhrmann's musical biopicElvis (2022). Luhrmann stated that while "Harry is a really talented actor ... the real issue with Harry is, he's Harry Styles. He's already an icon."[144] Styles starred alongsideFlorence Pugh in the 2022 psychological thriller filmDon't Worry Darling, directed byOlivia Wilde.[145] Having premiered at the79th Venice International Film Festival, the film, as well as his performance, received mixed reviews.[146][147] Steph Green from theBBC wrote, "Harry Styles doesn't feel up to the material here, with leaden line delivery and a lack of light and shade making his scenes opposite Pugh fall flat".[148] Some critics were more positive;Owen Gleiberman fromVariety wrote, "With his popping eyes, floppy shock of hair, and saturnine suaveness, he recalls the youngFrank Sinatra as an actor".[149] Styles also starred alongsideDavid Dawson andEmma Corrin in the romantic drama filmMy Policeman, which premiered at the2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[150] The film's main cast members were awarded theTIFF Tribute Award for Performance.[151] Critics were divided on the film and Styles's performance. Robert Daniels ofRogerEbert.com wrote, "Here, Styles' inexperience as a leading man in a weepy British queer period piece is glaring",[152] while Caryn James from the BBC opined that Styles "is far more convincing and has a much fuller, more grounded role inMy Policeman" compared to hisDon't Worry Darling performance.[153]
In August and September 2022, as part of his Love On Tour, Styles performed 15 sold-out shows atMadison Square Garden; to mark the achievement, a permanent banner was raised inside the venue. Styles became the third musical artist in history to have a banner raised at Madison Square Garden.[154][155] In November 2022, Styles collaborated withAlessandro Michele on a Gucci collection titled "Gucci Ha Ha Ha".[156] Love On Tour concluded in July 2023 as the then-fifth-highest-grossing tour of all time, earning $617.3 million.[157] Styles provided background vocals on bandmateMitch Rowland's track "Here Comes the Comeback", released in September 2023.[158] In July 2024, Styles joinedStevie Nicks on stage at theBritish Summer Time festival in London to perform "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Landslide" in tribute ofChristine McVie's birthday.[159]
Music critics have described Styles as having abaritone singing voice.[160][161][162] They described his music aspop,pop rock,rock,soft rock,Britpop,new wave,synth-pop anddisco, with elements offolk.[d] The musical style on his debut solo album was called a "mish-mash of Los Angeles' style classic rock and ballads" byNME,[164] invoking an "intimately emotional Seventies soft-rock vibe" byRolling Stone, and "synthesis[ing] influences from the last half-century of rock" byTime.[170][171] It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such asPink Floyd,the Rolling Stones,the Beatles andFleetwood Mac, as well as the "honest" songwriting ofHarry Nilsson.[172][173]Fine Line was seen byNME to have taken "this nostalgic sound [from his first record] and combined it with soaring pop sensibilities."[101] Styles said, "I think with music it's so important to evolve—and that extends to clothes and videos and all that stuff. That's why you look back atDavid Bowie withZiggy Stardust or the Beatles and their different eras—that fearlessness is super inspiring."[174]
Styles citedFreddie Mercury,Elvis Presley, andPaul McCartney (including his side projectWings) as influences, while mentioningShania Twain as his main inspiration both musically and in fashion.[175][176][177] While makingFine Line, Styles said he kept watching a vintagepep talk by Bowie that inspired him to push his art further.[178] When curating an "all-time top ten tracks" mixtape forAnother Man, Styles included tracks byCrosby, Stills & Nash,Ray Charles,Blaze Foley,Patsy Cline, andTravis.[179] Upon listening to Pink Floyd's 1973 albumThe Dark Side of the Moon as a child, he said he "couldn't really get it, but I just remember being like—this is really fucking cool."[5] The first song Styles learned the words to was "Dreams" (1977) by Fleetwood Mac, although as a child he believed the song "was about the weather."[180][181]
Styles also citedfine art as an inspiration. He has an extensive private art collection, owning original works from artists such asJean-Michel Basquiat,Damien Hirst,Polly Morgan,Yunizar,Ben Turnbull, Jessica Zoob, andHayden Kays.[e] He was also inspired by English painterDavid Hockney.[194] In 2023, Hockney painted a portrait of Styles included in theDavid Hockney: Drawing From Life exhibition at theNational Portrait Gallery in London. Styles called the experience a "complete privilege" and that "Hockney has been reinventing the way we look at the world for decades."[195] Styles also said thatAlain de Botton's 2016 novelThe Course of Love made him appreciate the work required in cultivating and sustaining a romantic bond.[196]
Stage performances
As a solo artist, Styles has chosen to tour as a rock artist with a backing band.[197] He plays acoustic guitar in addition to providing vocals.[198] Lead guitaristMitch Rowland and drummer and vocalistSarah Jones have toured with Styles both during Harry Styles: Live on Tour and Love on Tour.[199] Other members of his band have included the bassist/vocalist Elin Sandberg, pianist Niji Adeleye, percussionist and musical directorPauli Lovejoy, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Ny Oh, bassist Adam Prendergast, pianist Yaffra, keyboardist/vocalist Clare Uchima, and guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Charlotte Clark.[200] Jade Yamazaki Stewart from theSeattle Times said of the band, "[Love on Tour] felt more like a 1970s rock festival than a 21st-century arena show from an international pop star."[201]
Styles has been seen by critics to be an unusually energetic performer since at least 2015.[202] In a 2015Rolling Stone review of One Direction's concert atMetLife Stadium,Rob Sheffield said, "It's like watching the footage of Secretariat running the Belmont Stakes in 1973 — he's 31 lengths ahead of the other horses, but he speeds up madly for the final stretch because he's so in love with being fast."[202] Styles does not party or ingest substances after his shows because he tries to approach performing like an athlete in order to give fans the best show possible.[203] Craig McLean described his onstage physicality forThe Face in 2022 as, "stomping, head-banging exuberance" that is "impossible to resist."[204] His stage presence has been likened to that of Freddie Mercury and Mick Jagger,[204][205] while his charisma and playfulness have prompted comparisons toRod Stewart.[206]
Styles has been referred to as apop icon,[207][208][209] afashion icon,[210][211][212] and aglobal icon.[213][214][215] He is considered to be among the most successful solo artists to have emerged from a band.[216][217] Ben Beaumont-Thomas ofThe Guardian wrote that he is "a star who has negotiated one of the most difficult transitions in music – from boyband to solo artist – with more panache than even successful forebears such asJustin Timberlake andRobbie Williams".[218] In 2023, it was announced thatTexas State University would be offering a course on Styles called "Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity: Identity, the Internet and European Pop Culture", analysing the relations of Styles's career with "questions of gender and sexuality, race, class, nation and globalism, media, fashion, fan culture, internet culture and consumerism."[219][220]
In 2022, "As It Was" was the most-streamed song of the year globally onSpotify andDeezer, the second-most-streamed song globally on Apple Music, and the most-streamed song in the UK overall.[221]Forbes noted that withHarry's House, Styles racked up a first-week vinyl sales count larger than anything any musician has managed before.[222] Styles was the second-most-searched musician onGoogle in 2022, after Taylor Swift.[223]Rolling Stone UK named Styles the "new King of Pop" in 2022, following his groundbreaking year.[224][209]
Styles's fan base is known as "Harries".[225] Styles has inspired his fans to dress up for his concerts, leadingFashionista to call the shows "his fans'Met Gala". Outfits often include sequins, pink cowboy hats, and feather boas.[226][227] Styles's fans have been featured inVogue,[228]The New York Times,[229] andThe New Yorker.[230] Due to his popularity, the singer has often fallen a victim ofbottling,[231] frequently hitting him in the groin.[232][233][234][235] Since One Direction's early years, a group ofshippingconspiracy theorist fans, often called "Larries", has been dedicated to proving that Styles and Louis Tomlinson,name blended as "Larry Stylinson", are secretly a couple that has beencloseted by ahomophobic music industry.[236][237][238] In 2016,Vox's Aja Romano deemed the group "one of the largest elements of the One Direction fandom, which itself is one of the largest fandoms on the internet".[236] Academics Clare Southerton and Hannah McCann connected them to phenomena likequeer reading andslash fiction.[237][239] The theory, mainly proliferated on social media, has led toonline bullying and harassment of Styles's and Tomlinson's friends, family, and girlfriends.[240][236]
In June 2024, Styles's childhood villageHolmes Chapel launched a 2.5–3 hour guided walking tour around the area.[262] The tour follows the bakery where Styles used to work, the Tremlow Viaduct featured in the One Direction documentary,One Direction: This Is Us (2013), where Styles signs his name, and other attractions.[263] The Holmes Chapel Partnership were forced to hire tour guides to cope with demand after 5,000 fans visited the village in 2023.[264] There were over 150 applications for the role of a tour guide.[263]Madame Tussauds wax museum has displayed a Styles wax figure since his time in One Direction, and as of 2023, Tussaud museums in several countries had a figure of him.[265][266]
Styles wore skinny jeans, sheer blouses, floral prints, flamboyant suits and ankle boots while in One Direction.[267][268] Nicole Saunders ofBillboard noted that his fashion had "blossomed from a teen wearing purpleJack Wills hoodies to a carefully executed blend of '70s rock with a glamorous magpie feel" over the course of the group's five-year stint.[269] Regarding Styles's time in One Direction,AllMusic writer Tim Sendra opined that his "charming persona and elastic vocals had him positioned as theTimberlake of the group."[270]Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt described him as "a dimpled, rakish prankster happy to wear the mantle of Class Clown."[271] During the band's 2014Four era, Styles began collaborating with stylistHarry Lambert.[272] In 2016, he was featured inAnother Man magazine,[273] after which Anne T. Donahue ofThe Guardian labelled him an "artthrob" who offers "something other than token shirtlessness" and telegraphs "an allegiance to the niche worlds of art and fashion rather than aiming for mainstream notoriety."[274]Billboard's Chris Payne opined that Styles's "vibe has always screamed rock star."[275]
As a solo artist, Styles has opted for "candyfloss" custom pink suits, sequined tops, printed satin flares and a Gucci-heavy aesthetic.[267]Vanity Fair's Erika Harwood stated that Styles went from "boy-bander" to "luxury suit connoisseur" in describing his change in style.[276] His style was noted as "flamboyant", "fashion-forward", and "fun."[277] Citing his use of the colour pink, Styles quoted English musician andThe Clash's bassistPaul Simonon in aRolling Stone interview: "Pink is the only true rock & roll colour."[5]Ann Powers of NPR wrote that his fashion recalls theSpice Girls' "theatrical parade through pop's sartorial heritage" and that he "comforts with fashion's way of telling stories through artful accessories."[166]
Styles began wearing sweater vests, baggy high-waisted pants and pearl necklaces in 2019,[278] which prompted Jacob Gallagher ofThe Wall Street Journal to call him the "popularizer of the manly pearl necklace."[279] Tom Lamont ofThe Guardian noted that some of Styles's fashion choices have contributed to "an important political discussion about gendered fashion."[280] In 2020, Styles became the first man to appear solo on the cover ofVogue, for its December issue.[281] Right-wing commentators criticised him for wearinga blue Gucci dress on the cover;[282][283]Candace Owens demanded that society must "Bring back manly men",[284] andBen Shapiro ofThe Daily Wire called the cover "a referendum on masculinity for men to don floofy dresses."[285] Styles responded to the criticism by saying, "To not wear [something] because it's females' clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes" and "what's exciting about right now is you can wear what you like" as lines "are becoming more and more blurred."[286] The decision to wear a dress, combined with his refusal to label his sexuality, have opened him up to accusations ofqueerbaiting.[287] In 2022, the Gucci dress he wore on the cover of the magazine was incorporated into aV&A Museum exhibit calledFashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear.[288] Several of Styles's other outfits have been displayed in museums, including a blue velvet suit in theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, linen trousers at theDesign Museum, and a leather suit in theGrammy Museum at L.A. Live.[289][290][291] In 2022, Styles designed a Gucci joint capsule collection withAlessandro Michele entitled "Ha Ha Ha".[292] Unveiled atMilan Fashion Week, the collection included tailored wool and velvet suits, tweed trench coats, tartan kilts, bowling shirts, and printed pyjamas.[293]
Styles frequently spotlights the work of small designers.[43][294][295][194][296][297] He has been credited with increasing sales and attention for smaller brands such asBode, Éliou, Egonlab, S.S. Daley,Daniel W. Fletcher, Marco Ribeiro and Arturo Obegero.[194][298][299][300][297][301] Duringlockdown, aJW Anderson cardigan that Styles wore in a 2020 rehearsal forToday went viral onTikTok as Anderson provided the pattern for free online.[302] The V&A Museum acquired the cardigan for its permanent collection in November 2020, calling the viral craze a "cultural phenomenon that speaks to the power of creativity and social media in bringing people together in times of extreme adversity."[302]
Having won the British Style Award at the2013 Fashion Awards,[303] Styles placed fourth onBritish GQ's 2018 list of 50 best-dressed men, in which fashion designerMichael Kors deemed him "the modern embodiment of British rocker style: edgy, flamboyant and worn with unapologetic swagger."[304] In 2020, he was votedGQ's "Most Stylish Man of the Year".[305] Styles was also ranked first and fifth onBritish Vogue's "The 50 Fittest Boys" list in 2016 and 2017, respectively,[306][307] and was voted the "Sexiest Male in Pop" for three consecutive years between 2016 and 2018 in a poll by British radio networkCapital.[308][309][310] In 2020, he was named the most influential man in fashion.[311]GQ named Styles the best-dressed musician in the world.[312] Styles was inducted as part of the Business of Fashion's Class of 2022, a definitive index of people shaping the global fashion industry.[313]
Styles has been credited for multiple trends and different waves of items' popularity within fashion. He has been attributed to the popularization of items such as pearl necklaces,Hawaiian shirts, crochet garments,chelsea boots,feather boas, and wide leg trousers.[314][315][316][317][318] In 2023 Styles was credited alongsideBeyoncé andTaylor Swift for the rise in elaborate concert dressing, emulating fan culture of the 60s.[319] After Styles woreAdidas Gazelles as part of every concert outfit on Love On Tour,Adidas officially renamed the shoes on their web store to "Satellite Stompers" in honour of Styles reviving the shoe and his fans' nickname.[320] In 2024, Styles invested in a minority stake in emerging British fashion label S.S. Daley.[321]
Personal life
As of 2019, Styles splits his time between two homes inNorth London, having previously lived above theSunset Strip inLos Angeles.[322] He sold his Los Angeles residence, having become disillusioned with the city.[286] He lived in the attic of producer Ben Winston's home inHampstead Heath, London, for 20 months at the beginning of his career while he looked for his own house.[5]
Styles believes inkarma and considers himself to be "more spiritual than religious", stating that it is "naïve to say nothing exists and there's nothing above us or more powerful than us."[323] In a 2020 interview withVogue, Styles shared that he practicespilates and meditates daily.[324] He also attends therapy regularly.[43] He toldVogue in the same interview that he follows apescatarian diet.[324] In 2022, when fans started throwing chicken nuggets onstage during a concert and chanted that he should eat one, he told them, "I don't eat chicken, sorry. I don't eat meat", earning himPETA's 2022 Best Viral Moment for Animals Award.[325] Styles confirmed in 2017 that he haspolythelia, a condition where a person has more than twonipples.[326]
In May 2019, Styles was named second on theSunday Times Rich List of musicians in the UK under 30, with an estimated net worth of £58 million, having previously featured third on the previous year's list with an estimated net worth of £50 million.[327][328] He maintained his second-place position on the list in 2020 and 2021, with estimated net worths of £63 million and £75 million, respectively.[329][330] He topped the list in 2022, becoming the richest musician under 30 in the UK, with his net worth being estimated at £100 million.[331] In 2023, Styles was estimated to be worth £150 million, placed this year jointly at 13th position in a new list headed "35 richest people under 35 in the UK."[332]The Times estimated Styles's wealth to be £175 million in 2024, placing 17th on the "40 under 40" list and the second richest young musician in the UK afterEd Sheeran.[333]
Styles is a runner who in 2025 completed two of the sixWorld Marathon Majors—Tokyo[334] and Berlin, the latter in a personal-best time of 2:59:13 under the pseudonym "Sted Sarandos".[335]
Styles is heavily tattooed, having got his first one at 18 years old; the most prominent of which is a large butterfly on his sternum.[336] Styles's primary tattoo artist Liam Sparkes stated the butterfly on his torso is "based on an old French prison tattoo inspired by the filmPapillon (1973)."[337] He got tattooed on television as a dare onThe Late Late Show with James Corden in December 2015.[338] His tattoos include theGreen Bay Packers logo,swallows, "NY,LA,LDN", a padlock tattooed on him by Ed Sheeran, "never gonna dance again" (lyrics from the song "Careless Whisper" byGeorge Michael), "Brasil!", a naked mermaid, the cover art of the albumThe Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, his parents' birth years and various tattoos related to family members, and a tiny cross.[339] Styles has "17 Black" below his left clavicle after losing money gambling in Australia on 17 black and shares matching work of the children's characterPingu with Ed Sheeran.[337] He also shares a matching half a heart tattoo with Nathan Followill ofKings of Leon.[340] Styles has twoHebrew tattoos–one on his shoulder with his sister Gemma's name and another that translates to "Can I Stay"–influenced by his interest inJewish culture and Hebrew.[341][342]
Relationships
From November 2011 to January 2012, 17-year-old Styles dated television presenterCaroline Flack; their relationship stirred controversy, as she was 14 years older than Styles and accused of paedophilia.[f][343] He briefly dated American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift later in 2012,[344] leading to fan and media speculation about them writing songs about each other after their breakup.[5][345] From 2013 to 2016, Styles dated modelKendall Jenner and later cited her as one of the muses of his debut album.[346]
From 2017 to 2018, Styles was in a relationship with French-American modelCamille Rowe, who inspiredFine Line.[347][178] From January 2021 to November 2022, Styles was in a relationship with actress and directorOlivia Wilde, whom he met on the set ofDon't Worry Darling.[348]Rolling Stone said in 2022, "If Styles is already held up to a high standard, his potential partners are held to an unreachable one for some of his fans."[209] From June 2023 to May 2024, Styles dated Canadian actressTaylor Russell.[349]
Sexuality
Styles has been repeatedly asked about hissexual orientation in interviews since he was 19 years old.[43][280][350][351][352] When asked in a 2013 interview withBritish GQ whether he was bisexual, he replied, "Bisexual? Me? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I'm not."[350] In 2017, when asked if he labelled his sexuality, he said, "No, I've never felt the need to really. I don't feel like it's something I've ever felt like I have to explain about myself."[351]
WhenThe Guardian in 2019 questioned the authenticity of his flamboyant dressing style and his perceived sexual ambiguity, he stated:
Am I sprinkling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and be more interesting? No. ... In terms of how I wanna dress, and what the album sleeve's gonna be, I tend to make decisions in terms of collaborators I want to work with. I want things to look a certain way. Not because it makes me look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it makes me look bisexual, but because I think it looks cool. And more than that, I dunno, I just think sexuality's something that's fun. Honestly? I can't say I've given it any more thought than that.[280]
In a 2022 interview withBetter Homes and Gardens, Styles stated that the expectation that he should publicly label his sexual orientation is "outdated." He said, "I've been really open with it with my friends, but that's my personal experience; it's mine", and "the whole point of where we should be heading, which is toward accepting everybody and being more open, is that it doesn't matter, and it's about not having to label everything".[43]
In 2013, Styles andLiam Payne became ambassadors for the cancer charity Trekstock, raising over US$800,000 through the online fundraising platformPrizeo.[353][354] When theWestboro Baptist Church picketed a One Direction concert in 2013,[355] Styles spoke up on Twitter, responding that he "believes in equal rights for everyone."[355] In 2014, Styles joined LGBT rights charityStonewall's #FirstSnog campaign in celebration of their 25th anniversary[356] and showed support forMichael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team, by wearing his jersey onstage during One Direction's concert in St. Louis.[357] Styles regularly waves pride flags thrown onstage by fans at concerts[358][359][360] and assists fans with coming out publicly during sections of the show where he engages in banter with the audience.[361][362][363][364] LGBT fans have referred to Styles's concerts as "a safe space."[365] He received aGay Times Honour for LGBTQ Advocate in 2018,[366] and has been nominated three times at theBritish LGBT Awards.[367] TheLos Angeles Times called Styles a "champion of the LGBT community" and that "Styles' ability to exist comfortably, and extremely publicly, in a fluid space along the gender spectrum is particularly resonant with young gender-nonconforming fans."[368]
In 2014, Styles endorsedEmma Watson'sHeForShe gender equality campaign.[369] In 2015, he sponsored water wells in India via Drop4Drop in support ofLife Water'sWorld Water Day campaign.[370] The following year, he donated his hair to the UK charity Little Princess Trust, which supplies and funds wigs made of real hair to children who have hair loss as a result of illnesses.[371] In May 2017, to celebrate the release of his debut album, he played intimate shows atThe Garage in London and at theTroubadour in Los Angeles, with all proceeds benefiting charities.[372] That October, he performed atCBS Radio's We Can Survive concert at theHollywood Bowl for breast cancer awareness.[373] Styles's first tour raised US$1.2 million in charity donations from ticket sales,Live Nation's contributions, andGLSEN's Pride campaign toward 62 charities around the world, while his second tour raised more than US$6.5 million for its charity partners Physicians for Reproductive Health,Black Voters Matter andChoose Love, as well as local efforts including aid for food-insecure families in need during the holidays. Both tours also promoted water conservation via recycling and reducing plastic water bottle usage.[374][375][376] Styles also made an additional $100,000 joint donation with theUnited Center inChicago to the creation of the arts and creative entrepreneurship incubator at the former St. Laurence Elementary School as a celebration of his six-night concert residency in Chicago.[377]
In 2018, his online store sold T-shirts with the slogan "Treat People with Kindness" in a rainbow print forPride Month, with profits benefiting GLSEN.[378] That year, Styles also tweeted in support of theMarch for Our Lives petition,[379] and added "Black Lives Matter" and "End Gun Violence" stickers to his guitar.[380] Styles identifies as afeminist.[178] In December 2019, in response to an interview question about not using his influence more often to support specific causes, Styles stated:
Because of dilution. Because I'd prefer, when I say something, for people to think I mean it. To be honest, I'm still searching for that one thing, y'know. Something I can really stand up for, and get behind, and be like: This Is My Life Fight. There's a power to doing the one thing. You want your whole weight behind it.[280]
On the impact of events such asBrexit, theBlack Lives Matter movement andDonald Trump's presidency on his song "Sign of the Times", he said that "We're in a difficult time, and I think we've been in many difficult times before. But we happen to be in a time where [sic] things happening around the world are absolutely impossible to ignore. I think it would've been strange to not acknowledge what was going on at all."[172] Styles leans to the politicalleft, and he visited theHouse of Lords in 2016 to attend a debate on Brexit following an invitation byLabour peerLord Winston.[381][382] Regarding Brexit, he stated that "anything that brings people together is better than things that pull people apart" and stated that it symbolises "the opposite of the world [he] would like to be in."[5][383]
In light of themurder of George Floyd in May 2020, Styles showed support for Black Lives Matter, urging fans to share and donate in support, and pledged to donate to a bail fund for arrested Black Lives Matter activists.[384][385] He attended a Los Angeles Black Lives Matter protest the following month.[386] Despite being a British citizen, Styles endorsedJoe Biden in the2020 United States presidential election.[387] Styles also endorsed Texas' gubernatorial race candidateBeto O'Rourke by inviting him to his shows in Austin, Texas.[388]
Styles is also an advocate for abortion rights. Speaking toHoward Stern, Styles said the then potential overturning ofRoe v. Wade was "scary" and "going backwards" and that "there should be backlash and uproar for these things."[389] When the ruling was overturned in June 2022, Styles tweeted: "I'm absolutely devastated for the people of America today. [...] We're all in this together, and the fight is just beginning. A truly dark day for America."[390] Styles referenced the ruling at his concert in Austin, Texas, telling the crowd that "No one can tell you what to do with your own body, it's yours."[391]
On 2 June 2022, Styles announced he was donating his appearance fee from Apple'sAirPods' spatial audio campaign to theInternational Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian aid organization that is responding to the more than six million refugees being forced to fleeUkraine.[392] Continuing the partnership, Styles also invited three Ukrainian refugees supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to Love On Tour at his show atWarsaw's PGE Narodowy Stadium in July 2023.[393] Styles also donated the fee for the use of his song "Treat People with Kindness" featured inMarks & Spencer's 2022 Christmas advert toCentrepoint, a charity helping homeless young adults in the UK.[394]
In 2022 and 2023, following themass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Styles partnered with the nonprofit organizationEverytown for Gun Safety for 44 shows across five cities in North America as part of his Love On Tour.[395] Styles andLive Nation donated $1 million to the Everytown Support Fund, the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown. Throughout the partnership, volunteers with Students Demand Action, one of Everytown's grassroots networks, tabled at shows to spread awareness about the gun safety movement and encourage fans to join efforts to end gun violence in America.[396] The partnership won aPollstar Award for Brand Partnership/Live Campaign of the Year in 2023.[397]
Styles is a patron of theMusiCares non profit organization, and joinedFleetwood Mac for a performance ofThe Chain when the band were honored with theMusiCares Person of the Year award in 2018.[398] Styles donates items to the organization's annual charity relief auction, including multiple autographedGibson andGretsch electric guitars, and signed versions of his albums.[399][400]
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Styles released t-shirts with the slogan 'Stay Home. Stay Safe. Protect Each Other,' on the front and 'This t-shirt fights COVID-19. Treat people with kindness' on the back with 100% of the profits going towards theCOVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund by theWorld Health Organization.[401] Styles also paid his core tour crew's salaries for the duration of the postponed dates until the end of 2020.[402]
Treat People with Kindness
"Treat People with Kindness", abbreviated to "TPWK", is a slogan used by Styles to promote his message of love, acceptance, and kindness to others.[403] Styles began using the slogan during his debut concert tour in 2017 on a badge on his guitar and tour merchandise, including Pride T-shirts sold to raise funds forGLSEN.[404][405] In a December 2019 interview, he stated, "It was a pin I had on my guitar strap and we made T-shirts for it, then I saw a lot of T-shirts around. I'd be driving or something and see someone in one and I started feeling like, 'Oh this is a bit of a thing.'" The initiative gave Styles the idea to write theFine Line song "Treat People with Kindness", which was titled after the slogan.[406] The track was later released as a single with a subsequent music video featuring writer and actressPhoebe Waller-Bridge in January 2021.[407]
In October 2019, teaser posters including the phrase "Do you know who you are?" and the acronym "TPWK" were spotted in London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, and Australia; fans were able to connect the posters to Styles and his new album release because of the "Treat People with Kindness" reference.[408][409][410] To markWorld Mental Health Day in 2019, Styles launched a website bot called "Do You Know Who You Are?" that gives users positive randomised messages such as "bright", "determined", "loving", and "wonderful", and ending with "TPWK. LOVE, H."[410][411]
^Weingarten, Christopher R.; Spanos, Brittany; Aaron, Charles; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Sheffield, Rob (29 November 2017)."50 Best Songs of 2017".Rolling Stone.Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved30 November 2017.
^Weingarten, Christopher R.; Dolan, Jon; Shteamer, Hank; Spanos, Brittany; Exposito, Suzy; Hudak, Joseph; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Harris, Keith;Johnston, Maura; Levy, Joe; Hermes, Will; Sheffield, Rob (27 November 2017)."50 Best Albums of 2017".Rolling Stone.Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved13 January 2018.
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