Harry Styles’ latest magazine feature has prompted debate over both queerbaiting and forced-outing on social media.
Pop heartthrob and global superstar Harry Styles became Rolling Stones‘ debut global cover star this week, with a feature titled “How Harry Styles Became the World’s Most Wanted Man”
During the interview, Styles chips in on the relentless public speculation about his sexuality, which has been a hot topic of conversation since he found fame on The X Factor UK all those years ago.
“Sometimes 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,” he said.
Although Styles gave a valid response to accusations of queerbaiting, it only seems to have provoked more allegations of… queerbaiting.

A veritable storm began brewing on social media over whether or not Harry was, if fact, queerbaiting, or if he was just staying private (which of course he has every right to do).
The internet’s response to Harry’s interview answers was truly divided – with even Grindr getting dragged into it at one point (more on that below) – and the conversation is showing no signs of slowing down.
However, while some folk were were focused on the (serious and actually very important) topics of queerbaiting and forced-outings, others picked up on a more light-hearted approach.
In the Rolling Stone feature, Harry talks about filming queer sex scenes for his new movie ‘My Policeman’, saying:
“So much of gay sex in film is two guys going at it, and it kind of removes the tenderness from it … [but it can be] tender and loving and sensitive”.
The internet gay Twitter soon latched on to this comment and, subsequently, the gays were keen to jovially and unapologetically defend their right to enjoy sex that is neither tender nor sensitive.
Like this…
Harry Styles could never pic.twitter.com/p2AFXYUvu7
— Amy (@bergeambe) August 22, 2022
harry styles when he finds out gay sex is two guys having sex: pic.twitter.com/mTJCX1IJGB https://t.co/VxjX5Egco5
— Grindr (@Grindr) August 22, 2022
Harry styles when it’s time to suck dick after talking about queer experiences https://t.co/EKI1IAqWhH pic.twitter.com/Pt6o7zJciL
— ⋆ Tỏast ⋆ (@th3mb0fication) August 22, 2022
While some adopted a more light-hearted response to the interview, others online – both LGBTQ+ folk and hardcore Harry fans – were less chilled.
Now, this isn’t the first time Harry has been drawn on the topic of his sexuality. Only in April, for a feature with Better Homes & Gardens, he said:
“I’ve been really open with it with my friends, but that’s my personal experience; it’s mine”, adding:
“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, not having to clarify what boxes you’re checking.”
However, many saw Harry’s answers in Rolling Stone as dismissive and/or minimising the severity of queerbaiting, saying his refusal to label his sexual orientation was damaging to individuals and the wider community.
While others defended his right to privacy and to live freely as however he feels is most authentic, questioning why people care so much about someone’s private information – regardless of their personal orientation – when they ultimately are supportive of LGBTQ+ rights.
Here is a handful, in no particular order, of the commentary from Twitter.
Feel free to share your thoughts over on our Insta – as ever, lively and open discussion is encouraged. Trolling and offensive comments, however, are not – replies will be moderated.
See what you think (tw: charged LGBTQ+ opinions).
his stans calling grindr homophobic 😭 pic.twitter.com/9f7e7hUeIZ
— i dont have a name (@s4lemfrmrm) August 22, 2022
Harry Styles when he’s asked about his sexuality pic.twitter.com/PEKQbsBBc1
— white woman w/ a yelp account (@blakeissweaty) August 22, 2022
harry styles when he was watching brokeback mountain for the first time and saw the tent scene pic.twitter.com/iu7Gh9wPB1
— 𝐤𝐨𝐛𝐲 ♡ (@kobychill) August 22, 2022
Only one thing to say to Harry Styles : pic.twitter.com/b90uYTbNnh
— Dragoral (@Dragoral) August 22, 2022
honestly it’s very weird to me how people think harry styles wearing like a skirt every now and then is queer baiting like that word doesn’t mean what you think it means
— white trash feminist ❤️🔥 (@comradeswift) August 22, 2022
he's queerbaiting so much he forgot queer is about sexual attraction and not nail polish and ugly dress https://t.co/qqMU7g7M1i
— tummy ache survivor (@JENNlEP0P) August 22, 2022
Harry Styles: This queerbaiting discourse is so silly
The LGBT community: pic.twitter.com/lXInKm9pWu— Steven Bonaventure x (@absolutegazelle) August 23, 2022
also anybody participating in the tired harry queerbaiting discussion i seriously fear for your queer irl friends and/or questioning their sexuality it’s disturbing really
— zay (@zustinarryz) August 23, 2022
Harry Styles needs to stop cosplaying as gay. Quit toying with us and our experience for your own commercial exposure.
— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) August 22, 2022
harry styles is perfectly fine with leading his fanbase into believing he could be gay but is disgusted by the implication of having sex with another man despite having several songs about having sex with women https://t.co/tGwpW0xHwg
— laur (@shushukis) August 22, 2022
queer people with significant online platforms/presences speaking out against H and accusing him of queerbaiting is genuinely so fucking damaging and heartbreaking like how can you possibly invalidate someone for not explicitly coming out when you literally know closeting exists
— paigeee emmaleigh (@princessparkbby) August 23, 2022
“how does he make it all look so easy”
well when you market yourself to a specific audience (the LGBTQ community) and try to sympathise with their struggles by claiming you’re ‘bi’ you begin to sell better.
i’m tired of his queer-baiting and HETEROSEXUAL self.— soppy (@soppeyy) August 22, 2022
Harry Styles realizing that gay sex needs to involve 2 men pic.twitter.com/UjeFm4rgwk
— Yann (@yannhatchuel) August 22, 2022
… you ever heard of closeting? You don’t get to demand when and how a person comes out. You don’t get to decide who is valid in the community and who isn’t. The entire plot of my policeman is based on closeting. Tom lies, he avoids answering questions, and he marries a woman…++
— Liv (@otbisbrave) August 22, 2022
There’s people being killed & jailed for being gay etc etc I can’t bring myself to care over Harry styles ‘queer baiting’ pic.twitter.com/C1hpKEiSnT
— jono 🦋 (@jonomxr) August 22, 2022
My skin crawls every time I see someone describing a person as "queerbaiting."
To position someone's exploration of their own identity as some sort of cheap trick on their fans only makes it harder for everyone to find their own route to being out and proud.— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) August 22, 2022
sorry I am really over the queer baiting product management of harry styles. it's part of the whole brand of harry styles I do not like it https://t.co/mHzZgShH2D
— ariANAL grande (THEY/THEM) (@emowag420) August 22, 2022
sorry I am really over the queer baiting product management of harry styles. it's part of the whole brand of harry styles I do not like it https://t.co/mHzZgShH2D
— ariANAL grande (THEY/THEM) (@emowag420) August 22, 2022
Idk. It’s like people’s obsession with Shawn Mendes’ sexuality too. Just let people live. Even celebrities deserve some kind of privacy. Idk the whole conversation just really bugs me.
— Gracie ᗢ (@graciemaynard23) August 23, 2022
no one has to announce their sexuality publicly just because you feel entitled to knowing
— lottie (@chrrysmoon) August 22, 2022
So he’s still making money out of the ‘queer aesthetic’ but yet he is still unable to talk about whats behind it and does not give a propper representation for all the LGBTQI+ community. This is called queerbaiting and it’s literally not right even for him.
— 🔗Miguel (@psychobrainss) August 22, 2022
“how does he make it all look so easy”
well when you market yourself to a specific audience (the LGBTQ community) and try to sympathise with their struggles by claiming you’re ‘bi’ you begin to sell better.
i’m tired of his queer-baiting and HETEROSEXUAL self.— soppy (@soppeyy) August 22, 2022
Tyler The Creator did queer baiting better, yet Harry Styles is the most successful queer-baiter. What are we supposed to take from this?
— Flowige (@xFlowigex) August 22, 2022
Harry styles when Gay sex isn't just saying "slay bestie🤪" while wearing a granny dress https://t.co/9dm5Fuz1g7 pic.twitter.com/9m3wWvKr4L
— Lammely, Shadow High. (@MTMLammily) August 22, 2022
harry styles fans going all oh i’ll support him even if he doesn’t come out like that’s just him queer baiting you with big words please 😭 the recent interview is a very good example of white man trying to be different because they have no other interesting quality
— s (@yoongienthusias) August 23, 2022