True story: after Britain voted to Brexit last year, there were many public debates and Parliamentary debates. In July 2016, just days after the Brexit vote, Harry Styles attended one of the debate sessions at the House of Lords. He was invited by Professor Robert Winston, whose son directed a few of One Direction’s music videos. So, we know that Harry was paying attention to Brexit around that time. But he never really said how he voted or anything like that.
Well, Harry was in Paris this week to do press for his album. He appeared on a French talk show and the the host asks him about his thoughts on Brexit, and the host even gets a good joke in there, “Welcome to Europe!” Harry said about Brexit: “I don’t really comment on politics. To me, anything that brings people together is better than things that pull people apart.” To which the host presses him further, saying: “But you’re in favor of equality: men, women, gay people, straight people… that’s politics.” Harry replied:
“That doesn’t feel like politics to me. Stuff like equality feels much more fundamental. I feel like everyone should be equal. That doesn’t feel like politics to me.”
Which… alright. I mean, it’s really nice that there’s a young pop star out there, giving the kidz a message of “tolerance and inclusion are apolitical issues, these are fundamental rights.” That’s a good message for Harry to promote to his younger fanbase. But I also feel like… he should be able to talk about Brexit too, because Brexit is also about tolerance and inclusion. It’s like saying… “I don’t want to talk about Donald Trump, that’s too political, all I’ll say is that I believe in feminism, gay rights, universal healthcare and Black Lives Matter.” Even though those things SHOULD be fundamental, they are not, and you’re being political while still trying to retain a fanbase of anyone who voted for Brexit.
If you want to see the political section, start at about the 10:30-mark of this video. While I enjoy Harry, I have so little patience for the pause in translation and this video gave me a headache.
Photos courtesy of NBC/WENN.
Feel like there’s no right way to place a pie opinion without upsetting others. I don’t know, it’s sometimes difficult.
Wasn’t a One Directon fan but Harry has grown on me and can’t wait to see Dunkirk
If he’s not comfortable talking about it then that’s fine. I think we are at point where we want to know every single thought that celebrities are thinking when it’s ok to keep something to themselves and remain ‘apolitical’ on some issues (or just until they can better articulate their feelings). That’s not wrong. I’m a little tired of this obsession of finding out who is or isn’t a Dem or Republican and who did or didn’t support Brexit. I say this as a black woman not someone who’s coming from a place of white male privilege.
Do you not find it weird that you think you have to clarify your gender and skin color while stating your opinion? An opinion is either good or bad, your gender and skin color do not give it more or less valuable.
Not everyone wants to use their platform to talk politics and that is alright. Just because someone is in the public eye does not mean they are obligated to talk about certain topics. If I were him and I knew I did not want to talk politics I would make sure that those questions were off of the table before the interview even started to avoid lukewarm answers like this that make him look bad.
Honestly, these days I think this question is asked more to incite outrage from either side and less about genuine curiosity and interest in a public persons political stance/opinion.
I like Harry a whole lot, I really do. However, there’se NOTHING nowadays that is not politics. And I’m not talking about parties or politicians. But as long as it is decisions that influence and affect our lives, it is politics.
no. sorry but your privilege is showing harry styles, there aren’t many people who can afford not to be political in this current climate, stop taylor switfing your way through it.
He was adorable on SNL, I have to say.
Eh I like this quote too. He didn’t say he was FOR a crap policy and I like that he said his stance on equality is fundamental not political. He’s right. Just because countries make these things political doesn’t mean they should be. Harry’s interviews lately have made me a fan.
I’m a firm believer that if someone doesn’t want to talk about politics then they don’t have to talk about politics. I still stand by that. However, I just find it interesting that when Harry responds this way the reaction from most is “He doesn’t have to talk about politics!” But when other celebrities, particularly female celebs, say something similar they get raked over the coals.
I see that more when actresses are hesitant to call themselves feminist then about politics in general.
This is funny how different people differently read the same thing. His statement about equality is more political that most people’s need to talk about politics in a form of flattering or polarizing someone
I don’t think even this boy’s most ardent fans would think of him as a public intellectual. I’m sure he’s a nice chap an’ all, but he really and genuinely would only have kumbaya platitudes to offer so perhaps it’s best if he just offers them in a general way. It’s not as though he’s got the capacity to be the spokesman for Youth Remain, is it?
As one of Harry’s “ardent” fans I disagree with you entirely. Harry is a very deep thinker and a fascinating mind to see! Also in San Diego California, a Sea World location, he asked if anyone liked Dolphins and then told the audience to boycott Sea World-pretty pointed…and Sea world attendance plummeted and they changed some of their policies. Harry has thrown himself into other charities and issues such as drinking water for all and even his Brexit answer, while seemingly ambiguous, pointedly said I believe that whatever brings us together is better than what tears us apart. How much clearer could he be? He has been for equality forever and paraded around in pride flags, worn Michael Sam jersey on stage, used a Pride coffee cup in the Drag Me Down video, has tweeted “I study rainbows” and worn pride bracelets with that logo and many more things over the years. I think when you only know the print person you do not know them at all. For instance his RollingStone interview. Cameron Crowe determined the new album was about a woman which Harry denied in his first interview after that was published. Harry was polite and “ambiguous” but he denied that the album was about anyone but himself. Never believe written print interviews.
‘How much clearer could he be?’
oh, he could definitely be more clear by clearly saying he doesn’t agree with it.
Oh my God! Who cares what Styles think about Brexit?! This weird obsession with celebrities’ political opinions is thoroughly unnecessary. Everytime I see something like this, I remember this Dave Chapelle bit.
https://youtu.be/Mo-ddYhXAZc
I think he makes a valid point. Equality should be a fundamental basis of every society. That is how we should start calling racial, gender, sexual equality, not an option but a fundmental thing. As soon as equality and freedom is questioned as being a core of society, the more people allow themselves the luxury to doubt that those indeed are fundamentals. If more young people grow up thinking that and won’t ise equality as a polirizing issue just to climbe to the top of the political ladder, the better the future societies will be. This is especially understandable coming from someone who grew up in the post war Western Europe, when the whole European system was built on the never again slogan. It really implied that equality is not up for a debate anymore it just is a basis of oir societies. It is only in the last few years with the spreading of far right polotical movements the issue of equality once again became something up for grabs by someone who wants to be in power
It’s funny how it’s totally fine when it’s Harry but when other celebs such as Taylor Swift say they don’t want to comment on politics they’re dragged and called opportunistic when they remain vague, trying not to offend anyone.
People drag Taylor because she uses feminism to call out “bullies” and then she doesn’t comment at all. Harry said he believes equality should be a fundamental right, he’s commenting and in a big way. Me saying health care should be a right in America should give you a clear idea of which political party or candidate I most identified with during this last election. Im not saying “get a job and stop mooching” which would clearly identify another type of person entirely.
Taylor was dragged for not saying anything about Black Lives Matter too, many other celebs also were. I can guarantee you that if Taylor had made the same comment as Harry, people would have focused on the “I don’t comment on politics” bit and dragged her for being vague.
Honestly, someone not talking about for what they voted, makes me think that they voted for Brexit. Because let’s face it: his fanbase in the UK is pretty young – most young people are actually against Brexit, so I don’t think it’s much of a danger to openly be against it. And his American fans probably don’t care, and even they are probably younger and probably against Brexit.
I mean after all, it’s obviously his right not to talk about it and to vote for it.
He knows he’s privileged and he shuts up. There’s nothing wrong with that. He spoke fine, leave the boy alone
He does not need to comment anything on Brexit, people always want to hear what famous people think about any subject as if that will make your lives better.
Btw I really love ‘sign of the times’ , Harry boy you won another fan!