Harry Styles’ sexuality has been a subject of speculation for years. Even before he had adopted a dandyish, gender-fluid style throughout his solo career, the pop star already had to face gay rumors and allegations of being in love with another former One Direction member. And the fact that he’s been so coy about answering questions about his sexuality doesn’t help!
So, is Harry Styles gay? Or, is Harry Styles bisexual? Or, is he just expressing himself in his own unique way?
Here, we take a deep dive into some of the big moments and trends that have fueled the gay rumors – and try to answer whether they’re just that.
Larry Stylinson
The ship that launched a thousand fics, “Larry Stylinson” is a long-standing conspiracy theory among fans that former One Direction members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson are very much gay and very much in love with each other. The ship name is a combination of their names – “Harry” and “Louis” make Larry, and you know the rest.
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Larries – or Directioners who ship Larry – exist in places like YouTube and Tumblr, where conspiracy videos/posts seeking “clues” abound; and Wattpad and Archive of Our Own, self-publishing websites where people have written pages upon pages of fanfiction.
And yes, Louis and Harry are aware of this theory…and have repeatedly disputed it. In fact, they’ve gone on record about how much the ship has negatively impacted them. In 2012, Louis opened up about the effect the theory has had on their relationship. He stated that, while he found it funny at first, it has become hard to deal with. In 2019, he also called out a UK tabloid for igniting their “gay sex rumors” calling it “typical unprovoked venom” from the media that “couldn’t be farther from the truth”.
In 2019, years after One Direction went on hiatus and the Larry theory had seemingly quieted down, the HBO show Euphoria ignited the flames once more by including an animated sex scene between the two pop stars in an episode about fanfiction. The scene was pure fiction, of course, but it brought attention to the ship once more. Interestingly, a lot of fans came to the stars’ defense, especially after Louis tweeted “I can categorically say that I was not contacted nor did I approve” the episode.
In a later interview with the Guardian, Louis said “I know, culturally, it’s interesting, but I’m just a bit tired of it” and admitted that it had “pissed him off”.
Much has been written about the “Watermelon Sugar” singer “normalizing gender-fluid fashion”. Since he launched his solo career, he’s become more and more experimental with his clothing choices, donning flower-printed suits, lacy shirts, feather boas, painted nails, and even the occasional Gucci dress – like the one he wore on his Vogue December 2020 cover story. In 2019, he made headlines for turning up to the camp-themed Met Gala in a black sheer blouse, heels, and a single pearl earring.
All this should come as no surprise, however. Harry is a big fan of big and bold personalities like Prince, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and Elton John, and this is evident in the way he dresses. Plus, he’s a frequent collaborator of the ultra-stylish Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director.
In the interview with Vogue magazine, Harry opened up about his “flamboyant” choice of clothing, saying “I think if you get something that you feel amazing in, it’s like a superhero outfit. Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with.”
In another interview with the Guardian, he spoke about the matter again, saying, “What women wear. What men wear. For me, it’s not a question of that. If I see a nice shirt and get told, ‘But it’s for ladies.’ I think: ‘Okaaaay? Doesn’t make me want to wear it less though.’ I think the moment you feel more comfortable with yourself, it all becomes a lot easier.”
In the same interview, he addresses questions about his sexuality, albeit vaguely. “It’s not like I’m sitting on an answer, and protecting it, and holding it back. It’s not a case of: I’m not telling you cos I don’t want to tell you. It’s not: ooh this is mine and it’s not yours,” he comments.
But when prodded for more information, his response is “Who cares? Does that make sense? It’s just: who cares?”
When the interviewer proposed that perhaps the way he dresses and the way he designs his album art (the pink and blue stripes on Fine Line resemble the trans and bisexual pride flags) may look to some like hints about his sexuality, Harry responds by saying, “Am I sprinkling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and be more interesting? No.”
He adds that he doesn’t choose something like a photo or an album sleeve because “It makes me look gay or makes me look straight”, but simply because “I think it looks cool”. “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”, he says.
“I dunno, I just think sexuality’s something that’s fun, honestly” he concludes. “Honestly? I can’t say I’ve given it any more thought than that.”
Allegations Of Queerbaiting
When that Guardian article came out, Twitter was abuzz with fans and detractors alike criticizing the pop star for “queerbaiting”.
Queerbaiting is a term that, in recent years, has been used to describe straight actors and artists in the music industry who “appropriate” queer aesthetics to gain an LGBT fandom. A lot of the criticism hurled at these stars is the fact that, while many openly queer actors and musicians face discrimination and lose opportunities for being honest about who they are, those who queerbait can get all the benefits without having to deal with all the repercussions of being out.
Outside of his fashion and his coy “maybe, maybe not” answers, his detractors also pointed to things like Harry Styles’ gay kiss with James Corden, his ambiguous song lyrics, his habit of waving the pride flag at his shows, and his “We’re all a little bit gay, aren’t we?” comment as evidence of his queerbaiting.
But are they really? Or is he just a man who isn’t afraid to make risque fashion choices, wants to make fans of all genders and sexual orientations feel welcome at his concerts, and who is, ultimately, just confident in his masculinity?
At the end of the day, we’ll never really know for sure. That is, until Harry himself says so. While those who like to keep a watchful eye on celebrities who pander to LGBT audiences have their hearts in the right place, there is a case to be made for the harmful of queerbaiting accusations, too.
After all, we don’t know whether these celebrities actually are queer or even questioning, and to insist that they either admit it or drop the ambiguity robs them of the chance at self-reflection and self-acceptance, as well as the agency to own it for themselves when they feel the time is right. And in some cases, like Cardi B and Lady Gaga, they actually are – but their sexuality is ignored because of who they date (hello, biphobia).
Besides, as queer people, we’re constantly yearning for a world where self-expression isn’t limited to outdated gender norms. So why gate-keep nonconformity?
So, Is Harry Styles Gay?
There is no definitive answer – at this moment at least. We just have to wait and see what the superstar reveals about himself next!
RELATED: These resurfaced pics of Harry Styles dressed in full Ariel drag have Twitter divided
Ronbo
He’s a cute kid; but, It’s for him to decide. The
editorspeeping toms who write this drek creep me out. I creep me… out for reading past the headline.Diana73
“So, Is Harry Styles Gay?
There is no definitive answer” The article was going well until this part. While we do not know if he identifies as straight, we do know he’s not gay. He’s been in multiple relationships with women and he’s currently dating one.
spankt
What we know is that he has publicly dated women in the past, and is doing so currently, and has declined to put a label on himself including ‘straight’.
Pistolo
I don’t think he is queer. I would love it if he were, he isn’t though. But the media and Harry himself keeps minimizing this idea of being transparent and don’t evidently see the value in it. Well, I’ll tell you the value- some gay/bi kid out there thinks they see themselves in Harry. Someone out there fantasizes about him probably as a means of coping with not having options in their life, as a result of maybe being in the closet. They could otherwise be vulnerable and they’re looking to him as an example of somebody who defied the odds and made it. But here he is in interviews going “Who cares?!” and dating Olivia Wilde, accepting lucrative fashion endorsements and getting all this positive press. At some point or another, people who looked to him as an example may feel cheated in the absolute worst way and he could just be another appropriator.
That’s serious. Queerbaiting is real, gay men in particular are actually a very reliable demo and have their fantasies exploited all the time just far enough so that they’ll pull out their wallet. Then the baiter disowns them and cashes out. It happens all. the. time. And we all know it, we all see it. We all see these people who get to coast on a hetero world dip their toe in the pond and claim to be just like us. Because there IS some gain, there IS some trade off. It’s cool, for a minute.
Bowie in the 80s and 90s asserted that he was straight, he actually said some crappy things about how he essentially just pretended to be queer. So it DOES happen, we need to stop pretending it doesn’t and go for this mushy idea everyone’s just questioning vulnerable little creatures who shouldn’t face any vague scrutiny.
Donston
Bowie likely contended with some fluidity, contradictions, paraphiliacs. He never claimed he was “straight” in any interview. And in his latest interviews he talked about being “queer”/bisexual. But he also talked about how he exploited and exaggerated things to come off more “edgy” and different. Bowie’s image was calculated, and he baited in his own way. He was likely in the “queer spectrum” though.
Joshooeerr
It seems to me Styles (or his handlers) are working from the Bowie playbook. The “bi” or vaguely queer(ash) vibe gives him an edge, rather than being just another pretty boy singer. And it gives him a more cultish appeal to gay/queer fans – and everybody wants them. Bowie, despite all that early androgyny and claims of being bi, turned out to be, over the course of his life, pretty much entirely straight, as a person and an artists. And not always 100% gay-friendly with it (given certain comments and incidents). I’m guessing the same will prove true of Styles.
Donston
All we have is what someone presents and then you can have suspicions and assumptions and speculations beyond that. Bowie did pretty much say he was “gay” when he first broke through. Then he said he was “bi”. Then he said he was close to “straight”. In interviews just a few years before his death he did say he was “bi” and lived a “bi lifestyle” for a handful of years. But he also said there were some exaggerations and playing up certain things up for the sake of persona. We’ll never know the in and outs of his dimensions and motivations and journey. However, he did express having regrets as far as the homophobic/gay shaming comments and regrets towards playing up the “queer” aspects for attention and persona.
I believe Bowie probably had some gender/sexual fluidity or contradictions and probably messed around with a lot of different types of people. While he seemed to struggle with some internalized phobias and gay resentments at certain stretches in his life. His image was also very calculated, and he clearly exploited “alternative lifestyles” for his own career benefit. What Harry is doing does kinda seem like a lite weight imitation of that. But we ultimately don’t know anyone’s dimensions, motivations, journeys, struggles, mental health, where they are in the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum. All there is is speculation.
Fahd
If I were asked to grade this paper (I haven’t been), I would give it a solid B+/A-. It covers an extensive topic thoroughly with clear explanations for the uninformed. The photos appropriately illustrate the article’s assertions.
Since it was written by the editors, I would think that they would have caught the missing word or whatever in “there is a case to be made for the harmful of queerbaiting accusations, too.”, but I guess they’re not copy editors.
The queerbaiting seems to have worked on me, since I miss the whole Larry thing, but everything has its day, and to be fair, I don’t feel too victimized or hurt.
Harry’s cute in a standard Englishmen way, but I’m not a huge fan. I do admire his success which I attribute not only to his talent, but his ambitious persistence and creativity.
Keep up the good work with these articles – Rolling Stone could be next.
SiamSean
Kudos on your stylish reply, Fahd, other than I’m not entirely convinced of his “talent” (musical). There is definitely business talent and ambition there.
rbernard
I don’t know where Harry’s sexuality falls on the spectrum, but he is certainly not a straight arrow.
Younglings today often do not like to have their sexuality labeled and they just want to be able to sleep with whomever they feel like without a lot of drama on what to call it.
Donston
I really don’t see the point in breaking down people’s “sexuality” like this, trying to do an exposé on it. That’s something that just makes folks more self-conscious and insecure and hyper aware of ego, image, how they’re perceived by others. It just ain’t necessary and is arguably problematic. While at the end of the day, we can never know the dimensions of anyone’s sexuality, their experiences with fluidity, their preferences, their struggles, their motivations, their journey, where they are in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotional investment, commitment spectrum.
Y’all do realize that a guy can be into his sex in whatever ways/to whatever degree but still be overall hetero-leaning and have hetero commitment ambitions? Just like there are guys who have hetero/non-homo attractions and affections but are still overall homo-leaning and have mostly same-sex commitments. Yes, a lot of what Harry presents is clearly calculated and driven by image/persona. I don’t know if I’d accuse him of “baiting” though. He’s never flat-out said that he’s into guys, has never labeled himself and has never hinted towards same-sex preferences or relationships. He hasn’t tried to attach to “gays” or exploit “gays” or exploit same-sex dynamics for attention, money and/or validation.
What does bother me is how much the media and his fans have praised him for basic shit like wearing a blouse or a skirt a couple of times and how they hype up his “queerness”. That’s what’s actually annoying.
thisisnotreal
My problem with what he does personally is that to me it DOES feel calculated to a degree. Unless he has no idea what kind of things he likes or is into by this point in his life then why the constant coy answers? Do we as the lgbt community feel the need to give cutesy coy (is he or isn’t he) answers when people ask us about our sexuality? Nope we just answer the question. All of this answering the question by not answering the question just irritates me cuz it’s either a yes or no it’s not rocket science, but some celebs seem to love keeping the discussion about them alive and they seem to do so by giving non answers to questions that should be somewhat easy to answer. I get that he might have layers to his sexuality, but he could be openly discussing those layers as opposed to this constant am I or am I not that he always hints at. That feels deliberate in keeping the topic open for discussion about him (and it is still being discussed).
Donston
If you’re legitimately contending with fluidity/contradictions/questioning, it can be difficult to speak straightforwardly. A lot of people don’t get that and just want you to fully embrace being seen as “queer” or “bi”. But if there’s a lot of fluidity and questioning and you’re trying to figure out where you are in gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum then speaking directly publicly becomes an issue. You might feel like a different person and have a very different perspective just a year later.
Some do like being coy and playing up or playing down certain aspects for ego, image, career, sociology, etc. While “baiting” and “exploiting” are real things. But a lot of “queers” are not very sensitive to understanding individual people’s dynamics and struggles. Also, no one really owes anyone an answer when it comes to their life.
Mr. Stadnick
I am embarrassed that i read as much of this poorly put together article as I did. It has no info other than innuendo and rumors.
MynameisSid
I read your article to see if I didn’t realize that I needed to know about his sexuality.
Nope, still don’t. What a strange concept.
I don’t need to know where he puts his dick to be a fan of his music.
Mundo
Exactly, who the F needs to know!
HankHarris
He’s a rock star who uses clothes to express himself, sometimes to flamboyant and ‘feminine’ effect – see also Mick Jagger, Prince, etc. Nothing new. move on.
Me2
A little mystery goes a long way. He’s intentionally ambiguous and clearly wants to be among the greats like Prince, Jagger, and so on. I personally like it and him.
Donston
I don’t have an issue with Harry. He hasn’t really indulged “gay baiting”. All he’s done is put on a blouse or skirt a couple of times publicly and has hinted that he may not be entirely hetero. But probably half of the industry is in the “queer spectrum.” So, doing those things really isn’t anything special or unique or a cause for a bunch of hype. He hasn’t used same-sex affections and erotica for attention or buzz. He hasn’t exploited “gays” for money or attention. It’s the media and his fans making a big deal about any dude who shows some effeminate traits or who are willing to admit that they’ve experimented or might not be entirely on one side of the spectrum. That’s where most of the annoying and problematic stuff is coming from.
jthomasmpls
“Harry Styles’ Sexuality: Everything You Need to Know” is nothing! It’s nobody’s business!
Bibrutis
This is not my quote it came from a straight porn actor who has done gay porn. Adam Cub ” I am offended by the rising wave of anti-intellectualism in America, uptight people who enjoy being offended, and the witch hunt for ”micro-aggressions” that is currently working its way through the college campuses of America.” I would actually say that that is true but I would have to broaden that to the entire country as a whole. I find it ironic that queer culture finds it offensive that Cisgender men or any person who keep their minds, hearts and options open are somehow being offensive, or harmful to others! I thought that this was ultimately what we had been working towards for the last 50 years or more? I was almost killed when I was outed 35 years ago in the Navy. The younger people have know idea of how hard things used to be SNOWFLAKES UGG! What does it take to make you people happy? You want open minds start with your own!
Donston
I get some of what you’re saying. But what you’re saying is also pandering and not really intellectual.
I agree that we shouldn’t be putting identity and “coming out” pressures on folks, especially people still in their 20s. Every guy who talks about having “queer” aspects or experimenting shouldn’t feel as if they have to take on a “label” or feel as if they have to make some official statement about their identities or their dimensions.
On the other hand, “queer baiting” is a legit thing. There are definitely many folks who exploit “gays” or exploit their own queer aspects (or their hetero aspects for that matter) for some attention, buzz, money, an ego boost. The biggest issue is that we still refuse to accept just how individual sexuality is, that everyone has their own journeys and dimensions and motivations and struggles, and we refuse to accept just how broad the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum is. Put on top of that, the realities of homophobia, hetero pressures/expectations, internalized phobias, queer insecurities, gay shame, toxic masculinity, mental health issues, traumas, etc. It’s a much more complex and individual conversation than what a site like this can tackle. To me, in 2021, an article breaking down whether Harry is “gay” or “queer baiting” is rather tacky and counterproductive, especially with the way this site went about it. It feels like a setup for getting people to shame him for “queer baiting”. But this is a site that has used Harry for clicks, has promoted/fetishized “straight” worship, fetishized “straight presenting” guys indulging homo behaviors, mostly promoted the sex appeal of “masculine” males only, and has constantly hyped up dudes who have said some rather problematic/ignorant things just because they are conventionally good-looking and/or unabashedly “queer” identifying. There’s a lot of cringe and hypocrisy here.
Finally, please stop with the “younger people” and “snowflakes” rants. It just makes you come off old and bitter and dismissive. It also has little to nothing to do with the actual topic.
Mack
He is what he is, as simple as that. Personally I think he might have messed around some with a couple of the 1D, but that’s their business and not ours. Let him live his life.
GlobeTrotter
“So, Is Harry Styles Gay?
Who cares? Why is this even an issue, and what does his sexuality have to do with anyone else? Your sexuality is only of concern to you and the person(s) your’re sleeping with, that’s it! There’s no need to “come out”, no need to declare anything to anyone – just study hard, be kind to everyone, live a good life and be the best person you can be. Whoever you choose to boink, have fun, but let’s just get past this need to have to make a public declaration of one’s sexuality.
frankcar1965
These gay baiters need to go, you gays need to stop fawning over these fake gays, they just want your attention and MONEY. Stop being stupid.
Bonuscheque
Hes not gay, he’s not bisexual. He’s a straight guy trying to sell more records. I almost throw up in my mouth a little when I hear people compare him to Bowie. Not even close, David Bowie was an original and very talented.
Godabed
He hasn’t done anything for gender fluidity at all he’s not innovative in any way shape or form he knows Sylvester or David Bowie for that matter.
And he’s straight, I don’t understand why you are giving him the publicity on the square site, stop queerbating. Highlight actual queer artist there are a lot of them.
cuteguy
Pls keep that pimp Lisa Rinna and her wh0re daughter Amelia away from Harry.
shavedtechie
Who cares? Leave the boy alone. I only care if they are gay and promote anti gay rhetoric. If they don’t, then who cares.
redzebra1
“Everything you need to know” – the answer is NOTHING. It’s no one else’s business. The editors need to get over their high-school crush; he’s not going to have sex with you!