Harry Styles was involved in an uncomfortable confrontation with an autograph hunter who continued to follow him through the streets of New York on Wednesday. The former One Direction star, 32, appeared visibly frustrated as he exchanged words with a man carrying a stack of records for him to sign.
Photographs of the encounter show the pair pointing at one another during what appeared to be a heated disagreement, with Styles's bodyguard standing nearby. Despite the apparent confrontation, the man seemingly refused to take the hint, continuing to walk alongside the singer for several blocks.
Styles, who was dressed casually in a grey baseball cap and sunglasses, appeared to have been attempting to enjoy a relatively anonymous outing before the encounter. At one point, his security guard was seen approaching a police car, seemingly to alert officers to the situation. Police did not intervene.
Styles's Past Comments on Public Life
The incident is particularly notable given that Styles has previously spoken about how important being able to move freely through the world has become to him. In fact, the As It Was hitmaker recently revealed that a former girlfriend helped him overcome his fear of going out in public after years of feeling effectively trapped by his own fame.
Speaking to Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke for Rolling Stone, Styles discussed how his relationship with public spaces had changed since his days in One Direction. Yorke admitted he had been surprised to see Styles walking around without an obvious security presence, asking whether it was a deliberate decision.
Styles explained that during the height of his boyband fame, he had become accustomed to spending much of his time confined to hotels and private spaces.
'I think in the early days, when I was in the band, so much of the hotel experience felt very locked-in,' he said. 'When I'd be home, it felt like, "Oh, it's not safe for me to be out."'
How Walking Changed His Life
That changed when he began dating someone who was considerably more comfortable getting out and about. 'Then I had a girlfriend who was very outgoing, and she was coming to London and I was like, "Oh, if we just sit in my house for three days, she's gonna think I'm nuts."'
Rather than hiding away, the couple began exploring the city on foot, helping Styles realise that he didn't necessarily have to sacrifice everyday experiences because of his celebrity status. 'So we walked everywhere, and it was this realisation for me: "Oh, it's fine to be outside,"' he recalled. 'It kind of broke that thing. Now, it's changed my life in such a big way, because it's how you stay connected to the world.'
Walking has since become an important part of the singer's daily routine, whether he's wandering around London or New York, cycling through the city or heading out for a run. While Styles didn't identify the girlfriend in question, he may have been referring to Taylor Swift, whom he briefly dated in 2012, when One Direction's popularity was reaching extraordinary heights. He even surprised fans by taking part in the Tokyo Marathon last year.
Styles's Strategy for Avoiding Attention
Somewhat ironically, Styles has previously explained that keeping moving is one of the things that allows him to avoid unwanted attention. Speaking to Runner's World in March, he said: 'Well, the main thing is that you're always moving. You can turn a corner wherever.'
He continued: 'I think with people who see me, it's a bit more "Was that…?" rather than, "Oh look it's him!" And by that time, you're already gone.'
Unfortunately, his latest New York outing suggests that particular strategy doesn't always work when someone is determined to get an autograph.
