Harry Styles Is Getting Backlash After He Dodged ‘Queerbaiting’ Questions In An Interview
Critics say Styles is problematic for profiting off queer aesthetics without actually identifying as queer.
Harry Styles has given a lukewarm response to accusations of queerbaiting, and a wave of online backlash has ensued.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, reporter Brittany Spanos brings up the possibility that Styles is queerbaiting, or profiting from taking on “queer aesthetics” without identifying himself as a member of the queer community.
Styles seems familiar with the argument, noting in the interview that he finds it silly. “Some 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.”
While defenders of Styles reckon he shouldn’t be forced to ‘label’ himself; others say that if the singer is straight, his refusal to say so is problematic in the context of the queer aesthetics that he draws from, and members of the queer community who support him.
“I’m conflicted because he really doesn’t owe anyone a ‘coming out'”, writes Twitter user @TheTitanBaddie, “but if he’s not actually queer, this is very weird behaviour.”
Another user, @_laleena writes: “There’s a difference between being an unlabelled queer and being a man who won’t call himself straight because he’d rather his queer fans keep babying him in the face of accusations of him being queerphobic/transphobic.”
Finally, @midwestbimbo says: “Are we going to talk about how he’s profited off of gay aesthetics and queerness and people just let him get away with it because “maybe” he’s queer?”
The backlash to Harry Styles raises bigger questions about whether we’re more comfortable seeing a white man (who is likely straight) embodying queer aesthetics than we are seeing queer people do the same.
More online responses to the Rolling Stone interview are below.
harry styles could simply say yes or no to if he’s queer or say he’s unlabeled but he’s just always vague to keep profiting off his lgbtq fans’ back this is actually what queerbaiting is 😭
— ໊MR. Tumble (@V8MPlRE) August 22, 2022
harry styles is sooo fucking annoying about queer topics for someone who is a white straight male
— 🐯 (@hsytheworld) August 22, 2022
“labels dont matter!!” until harry styles refuses to explicitly come out as queer and therefore he’s a heterosexual queer baiting liar
— LAZARUS ! (@deja_drewww) August 22, 2022
I won't believe Harry styles is queer until he asks why there aren't any lgbt spaces not centered on drinking
— please be nice to patrick (@ruff_bluffs) August 22, 2022
Harry Styles crafting another public statement designed to obscure his sexual orientation and gender identity and enable himself to continue performing queerness while also being condescending as hell to queer people and about queerness. pic.twitter.com/FJfomKGnVF
— Mighty Morphin' Power Faggot (@jyggly) August 22, 2022
not the yt gays saying Harry Styles isn’t queer even though he’s had multiple relationships with she/theys 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
— Gizmo (@ChiTheRealest) August 22, 2022
harry styles doesn't owe us jackshit in terms of actually doing so, but it's becoming very tiring very fast when someone who at least refuses to publicly identify as queer repeatedly speaks on topics concerning queer ppl. swear this gay chicken shit can't go on for much longer
— jochi. (@hangmansbf) August 22, 2022
Harry Styles is basically like “listen, I’m as queer as you personally want me to be” and we are all like yep that works
— carina adly mackenzie (@cadlymack) August 22, 2022
“queer icon” harry styles when real queer people say he’s a liar pic.twitter.com/lAdIDqd03w https://t.co/1YAhmrGFnj
— gray ➪ (@TRISHANAKRUS) August 22, 2022
If Harry styles *is* queer and doesn’t want to come out about it why doesn’t he just shut the fuck up about it omg
— chronically online (@queercoderdude) August 23, 2022
when people realize harry styles isn’t doing anything revolutionary for the queer community maybe i’ll have more faith in humanity
— chelsea is querying 🪴🌼 (@chelseagparker) August 23, 2022
Image credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images