Harry Styles‘ fans are trolling conservative pundit Greg Kelly over his femme-phobic remark about the British singer — and the Twitter replies are hilarious.
Kelly posted an image of Styles wearing a rainbow-sequined pantsuit during his Coachella 2022 performance and wrote, “I think Harry Styles would benefit from 3 years in the Marine Corps.” Kelly, a former Marine, probably assumes that military service would make Styles less flamboyant — nevermind that we know plenty of queer veterans who are femme AF and slay on the regular… but we digress.
I think Harry Styles would benefit from 3 years in the Marine Corps. pic.twitter.com/hMiA3H5Fk1
— Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) April 18, 2022
Kelly may not have known that Styles was actually in the military… well, that is, he played a soldier in the 2017 film Dunkirk, a movie about the 1940 evacuation of European troops from a French beach under German attack during World War II.
Styles’ fans began using screenshots from the film to mock Kelly, telling the pundit that he was wrong for “disrespecting the military.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Show some respect Harry is a decorated war hero from the battle of Dunkirk here’s two photographs documenting his time in service pic.twitter.com/oxHsMgR1Ov
— Stacy (@Dixiechick3796) April 18, 2022
He literally fought so hard in the war where are you living? He’s a young war veteran pic.twitter.com/bdQnNlo2mL
— Carrotsfor_Leah (@Carrotsfor_Leah) April 18, 2022
Greg…you seriously aren’t familiar with Mr. Styles’s deployment to Northern France? pic.twitter.com/x3JopYSQME
— Kameron Rogers (@808s_and_Tweets) April 18, 2022
He literally fought in the Dunkirk Evacuation show some fucking respect Gregory https://t.co/0HDng9cxHI pic.twitter.com/ehlLjU9iRE
— The Girl Who Didn’t Go Go Paris (@rafalafaaa) April 19, 2022
Wtf are you talking about Greg? He is literally a war hero. He got thanked for his service too. Smh show some respect? pic.twitter.com/xxn49zIcWm
— Rachel (@megsvol6) April 18, 2022
wow. disrespecting our troops like that??? pic.twitter.com/P4Rye7Vgwe
— lily (@lilytpwk17) April 18, 2022
Missing the joke, Kelly commented, “ASTOUNDING-Many think since HARRY STYLES was in ‘Dunkirk’ he was in the Military. He’s in a COSTUME, Not a Uniform. ‘Entertainers’ were once there for our occasional Amusement, now FANATICS have made them a New Religion.”
ASTOUNDING-Many think since HARRY STYLES was in “Dunkirk” he was in the Military. He’s in a COSTUME, Not a Uniform. “Entertainers” were once there for our occasional Amusement, now FANATICS have made them a New Religion. (“Dunkirk” STUNK btw. Couldn’t decide what it wanted to be) https://t.co/bNLNYCECGp
— Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) April 19, 2022
But Kelly’s oh-so-smart reply didn’t really matter, since Styles’ Twitter army moved on to clowning him in other hilarious ways.
I think Greg Kelly would benefit from 1 night in a sequined dress https://t.co/gPhsZnpFKd
— Marshall Scott (@Marshall__Scott) April 18, 2022
why you got his pictures in your phone Greg??? got anything you wanna share with the class? pic.twitter.com/J9Cqj9uw6q
— ☆ is in LATE NIGHT TALKING era (@HereforHS1) April 18, 2022
— katja. (@catherinewowow) April 18, 2022
are you jealous? pic.twitter.com/CKrliplvtH
— V ♡’s N is seeing H and meeting Nina in 84 days (@hunvikt) April 18, 2022
okay greg pic.twitter.com/C9MhrwBTZk
— simple pain compliance (@lavoyfinnacum) April 18, 2022
Others provided more images of Styles wearing dresses for Kelly to save in his phone.
You can add this photo to your album too ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wKRq5gj4Gq
— jokes (@itisbreakfast1) April 18, 2022
I don’t know what you’re talking about… pic.twitter.com/WaO08SM8DE
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) April 18, 2022
A bunch of commenters also posted videos of military men doing intensely homoerotic things in the barracks.
Styles doesn’t identify as queer, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Kelly disapproved of his flamboyant outfit. Kelly, a host on the far-right Newsmax TV network, generally opposes any media that acknowledges the existence of queer people, including Oreo’s gay-inclusive ad and the lesbian cop in Pixar’s Onward.
Bosch
Is this the same guy who was picking on Lil Nas? What is it with these grown republicans trying to engage in dom/sub behaviour with young men?
But seriously, there’s something wrong with you if you feel the need to bully people half your age.
jcool
no doubt a rainbow sequined pantsuit worn without underwear could trigger a dude. i know i felt a little something………
ZzBomb
I’m beginning to believe Tucker Carlson: conservative men emasculate themselves to the point we should be asking them to define a “man.”
bachy
Wonder how Kelly felt about Jagger and Bowie back in his own day. Probably hid under the bed when their music came on.
Max
Kelly probably thinks masculinity is when toilet paper is the only thing that’s ever touched a man’s sphincter.
AdamAZ
I knew a transwoman when I lived in California who had served as an Army Ranger and I have a friend now who is a Crossdresser where I live in Arizona who was attached to a Special Forces unit when he was in the Army…
Kangol2
This supposedly straight White man seems very worked up over young men’s fashion choices. First Lil Nas X, now Harry Styles. DL queen Kelly probably lusts after both, and girl, Balmain pants or not, it’s hardly a secret any more!
Res1
Unpopular opinion: I think Harry Styles is trolling the gay community.
Den
Opinions based on imagination are worthless. Or foolish. Or both.
What exactly has Styles DONE to even imply he is trolling the gay community? The notion that all opinions are equivalent or worthy of any respect or consideration is bull (and, not surprisingly is a favorite belief of the right).
Put up or shut up.
I’ll repeat that: Put up or shut up.
theherald
It’s pretty clear you don’t know what “trolling” means.
Res1
How is pandering to gays for an image and monetary value helpful to the community?
Bosch
How is perpetuating heteronormativity helpful to the community?
Be grateful that some celebrities celebrate us.
Donston
The whole is he “baiting”/is he crossing over into parody and cosplaying debate is kinda tired with Harry. The “kids” like him. So, it is what it is. I do find some of it kinda cringe-y and leech-like. And claiming folks should be “grateful” is more than a lil bit condescending and a very basic viewpoint. But I’m also not here to tell people how they should dress or express themselves. While none of us know the dimensions of his sexuality or lifestyle or preferences or journey or where he is in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic attachment, emotional investment, commitment spectrum.
Bosch
@donston I don’t know how old you are, but it wasn’t so long ago that the only gay representation on TV was either a desexualided Ellen Degeneres in pastels, or Scar from the Lion King.
I’m sorry if you think it’s a basic viewpoint, but complaining that too many celebrities want us as their target audience is really a champagne problem.
Mattster
The opinion of someone who doesn’t understand what “trolling” is doesn’t mean much.
Donston
The conversation has evolved and gotten a lot more nuanced since the 90s. The time of being overjoyed because of representation or because someone shouted you out is over. It’s time to update. While claiming folks should just be “grateful” is really cringe-y. That’s borderline house slave mentality. And Harry isn’t looking for “queers” to be his target audience. He’s using queer aesthetics and gay ambiguity to appeal to his real target audience: basic white women between 16-28.
I’m not hating on Harry. But I also understand why some question his image and his motives. While claiming folks should be “grateful”, it’s just not something that should be said.
Bosch
Sorry Donston, I think this whole generation needs to learn how to be grateful. Yes, you need to be grateful that you live in a time when acting queer doesn’t get you cancelled. You need to be grateful that some people use their fame to make the world more open-minded.
Does Harry styles have to suck a dick on TV for you to accept him in a dress? Calling it slave mentality is ridiculous. Harry Styles in a dress does not create a master/slave relationship with the audience.
You say the conversation is more nuanced than in the 90s; the only difference I see is that the things that used to piss off the homophobes are now pissing off the gays. Our community is turning into the same type as angry conservatives who are offended by everything.
If it was so lucrative to wear a dress, every popstar would be doing it, wouldn’t they?
Has it occured to you that Harry is doing what he wants because he wants it? According to his mother, he’s been dressing up since he was a child. Is he supposed to act “masc” to avoid upsetting the easily-offended individuals of our community? Are we now gate-keeping fashion?
I know you’re open-minded, but your attitude towards this subject is the kind of attitude that will keep people from being their authentic selves. Stop acting like every celebrity is Colton Underwood.
Bosch
TL;DR
If you’re offended by the same things that homophobes are offended by, you need to examine it. People like Styles are on our side, regardless of who they sleep with. And who they sleep with shouldn’t be important, because judging people by their sexuality is something that the bigots do, not us.
Donston
What Harry is doing isn’t anything folks haven’t done for decades. Artists have used “queer aesthetics” and general ambiguity to create intrigue and mystery and controversy for decades. In fact, what Harry is doing almost perfectly aligns with what a lot of artists in the 70s and 80s did. It ain’t new. And I’ve already said that I don’t care how people express themselves. While I don’t care about the dimensions of his sexuality, his lifestyle, his preferences, his relationships, where he is in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic attachment, emotion, commitment spectrum. I’m simply annoyed by this idea that “queers” need to be “grateful” for him and uplift him. That’s a toxic, dated, homophobic and anti-gay perspective. Using language like that makes you come off both old-fashioned and like a “pick me” gay.
Yes, people are now having in-depth and nuanced conversations about “baiting”, leeching, dimensions, how people use sex and identities and sociology, using identities and sociology to cover up toxic or abusive behaviors, and so on. These are uncomfortable conversations. But what I am grateful for is that we are at a place where we can have these types of nuanced conversations rather than just get hype about something being “gay” or someone being “queer friendly.”
I ultimately don’t have a problem with what Harry has done. And I sometimes find his music and image kinda fun. But both you and Res1 could use more nuance and reverence in your perspectives.
Bosch
You don’t need to be grateful that Harry wears a dress; you need to be grateful that you live in a time when Harry is free to wear a dress.
And you’ve got my point backwards: I’m not suggesting that “queers” need to uplift Harry. I’m telling you that people like Harry lift US up.
And on the subject of internalised homophobia; you respond this way to any kind of celebrity news. If a celebrity comes out, you accuse them of gay-baiting. If a celebrity cross-dresser, you accuse them of pandering to basic white chicks.
I don’t know if it’s occured to you, but for someone who is open-minded, you’re very judgemental of our allies. Wouldn’t that just be exactly what the homophobes want?
Bosch
“using identities and sociology to cover up toxic or abusive behaviors”
This is what I meant when I said “stop pretending every celebrity is Colton Underwood”.
Tell me, who were your LGBT role-models when you were growing up?
Bosch
Sorry Donston, but appreciating our allies is not anti-gay. Appreciating celebrities who celebrate us is not anti-gay.
We have REAL enemies, and a boy in a dress is not one of them.
I think you have fallen for the divide-and-conquer tactics of maleficent social engineers. You’d do well to practice some solidarity.
wiggie
Served 10 years in the Marine Corps under DADT. Everyone in the unit knew who was gay and didn’t give a damn and there was ALOT of homoerotic stuff going on with the straight Marines.
scotty
hey now all thaT stuff i wrote about Ezra Miller applies here as well please mr styles. cheers eh
tommyboy5023
I dont know what you wrote about Ezra Miller. But he has serious issues, two felony assault arrests this week. Its only Thursday. Harry is enjoying life and is successful at it. Wear what you want, Harry.
Jim
Kelly fantasizing about he and Harry in the Marines.
You bad boy!!
BaltoSteve
It is of my opinion that the title of the article should be, “Grown Ass Bigot Attempts To Make Himself Relevant In His Homophobic Bubble By Making Snide Tweets About Someone Who Doesn’t Fit His Sad And Pathetically Narrow View Of What It Means To Be A Man.” Though admittedly that is a bit verbose even for Queerty.
Bosch
I understand why it upsets homophobes when a musician rebels against gender stereotypes and heteronormativity.
I do not understand why certain members of the LGBT community get upset about it. There are REAL threats to our community out there, and sexually ambiguous allies are not one of them.
Stefano
Bravo Bosch. You are one of the few here whose comments are sensible and intelligent. You don’t make personal attacks on others but refer them to their flawed logic. Reading your comments makes me feel a little better. Maybe there is hope for your country after all! Wish you the best!
Bosch
Thanks Stefano. It’s not entirely true though, I make lots of personal attacks when I’m arguing with our in-house troll(s) hahaha… Taking full advantage of the fact that bullies have extremely thin skin.
But I live in Europe, so I’m also watching the American left change from the outside. I might need a tin-foil hat, but I think all the in-fighting and perpetual offendedness is the result of crafty social engineering trolls. Simple divide and conquer strategy.
We’re gonna wake up one day to find out that the Rocky Horror Show is offensive. I’ve already seen people say that Will and Grace, a show that saved hundreds of gay teens in the 90s, is homophobic.
Stefano
@Bosch : You are excused for attacking the troll of the moment. I’ve been visiting Queerty from time to time for several years now and it’s a patern that keeps coming back. There is always a troll of this type who starts all over other people’s comments. I don’t understand why the site managers don’t control the comments better…but hey, that’s their problem! Now I understand better why you are smarter and more structured than the average American…LOL I’m not American either but I often go to the US for my vacations and I used to live there for a while too. What amazes me about the Republicans Party is the very low intellectual level of their representatives. This political party would not make it to one election here, it would be completely ridiculed and marginalized. The most ridiculous statement comes from DeSantis in The NewYorker on April 18th who says that math makes you gay! These people throw out any kind of nonsense but the worst part is that people actually buy into their stupidity.
Bosch
That’s clearly why the republicans constantly try to sabotage the education system; they need their voters to be dumb and angry. Suggesting that math makes people gay is just another way of ensuring the dumbasses stay dumb.
We have one party in my country that tries to mimic all the same behaviours, but they’re not very successful. They initially managed to unite their base using racism and shared hatred (because that’s the only way idiots know how to unite), but the voters quickly became disillusioned by the republican-style rhetoric, fabrications, and extremism. Especially when they tried taking the side of the aggressor in the war. The fact that American republican opinion leaders can get away with supporting mass murder is horrifying.
Bosch
Wow I thought you were joking, but DeSantis really rejected math textbooks for “unwanted social and emotional learning”? And they have an actual law against teaching critical race theory?
I guess it’s clear why we have so many “Florida Man” news stories…
Stefano
You’re absolutely right about that! But I think the most mind-boggling thing is that this political party still exists and that the idiot D. Trump still has control over it. He still tried to make a coup d’état and take control by force using his useful idiots! In a normal country, he would have been brought to justice long ago! The Republicans are for me the same as the islamists and even more dangerous because they have much more money and means than the islamists. Their goal is not to make America great again but to be sure to have a good pool of idiots to support the rich oil owners and multi-billionaires. Anyways. We could go on and on about all the problems in the United States, the list is very long. As you say, the Republicans want to sabotage the education system at all costs because it is very easy to control people who are undereducated or even worse…indoctrinated…and that’s where religion comes in.
Bosch
“The Republicans are for me the same as the islamists”
Right-wing? Check.
Misogynistic? Check.
Fundamentalist? Check.
Homophobic? Check.
Racist? Check.
Anti-intellectual? Check.
Pro-violence? Check.
Occasionally supportive of child marriage? Check.
Secretly enjoy the things they pretend to object to? Check.
Believe in religion only when it suits them? Check.
You’d think they’d get along with eachother…
AdamAZ
Wait.. both political parties in the U.S have their share of intellectually challenged… it was just a few years ago that the Democrats were claiming Math was racist…
mailliw110
Sorry, just here to see if Missy Marcy shows up.
dale hankins
Not sure who this Greg Kelly is or who he thinks he is. Perhaps he is jealous, because Harry Styles is a talented, good looking young man. I am not sure why he thinks that spending time in the military would change Harry, because I know many drag queens who have served in the military going back to World War II. I think Harry looked good in the rainbow sequin outfit and the picture of him bending over is something else. I am not sure what the right-wing trolls are afraid of, but they need to man up and move on
Polaro
I don’t like many of his dresses since they just look bad. The sequined pants suit is great though.
scotty
my lust has no end for harry styles and ezra miller.