The immensely popular boy band One Direction separated in 2016, leading the members into many different directions. The five-member band was formed on the British version of the singing competition The X Factor and gained an international fanbase after placing third. However, each of the members has developed their own careers since splitting up, the most notable being that of their former lead singer Harry Styles. His self-titled debut album gained widespread recognition for its unexpected soft-rock ballads that addressed issues plaguing society today, and his European tour for the album has recently commenced. In his first shows, he has performed two new unreleased songs called “Anna” and “Medicine,” the latter of which has fueled rumors while perhaps ending a controversy about the singer’s sexuality.
During Styles’ career in One Direction, there was widespread gossip about the romantic involvement of Styles and fellow bandmate Louis Tomlinson, nicknamed “Larry” by their fans. While the allegations of sexual involvement were firmly denied by both entertainers, the chemistry between the two was undeniable during performances and interviews together. While Tomlinson has repeatedly called himself straight both in interviews and in response to “Larry” rumors on Twitter, Styles has been less resolute in labeling his own sexuality, saying “I don’t think it’s something I’ve ever felt like I need to explain about myself.”
In “Medicine,” the lyrics “the boys and girls are here/ I mess around with them/ and I’m ok with it,” first led fans to believe that Harry had bisexual tendencies and that the song was his way of “coming out” to the world. In more recent concerts, fans have heard different versions of the song, often with the replacement of “them” with “him,” which has intensified the rumors about Styles’ sexual preference, suggesting that he has been sexually or romantically involved with a man before.
While it is no secret that Styles has dated countless famous and beautiful ladies ranging from actress and model Cara Delevingne to singer Taylor Swift, the potential of Styles to be attracted to men as well has rocked the worlds of entertainment and news. Styles is now viewed as a queer icon, and his song “Medicine” has been labeled a bisexual anthem. While the accomplishment is phenomenal, it brings into question the validity of the rumors that have been spread about him being bisexual. He could have been using these lyrics to raise awareness of his support for the LGBT community, as he has been known to wave rainbow flags while performing. He could also be doing it simply for publicity, in which case his plan has succeeded. There have been many skeptics and critics who believe that Styles’ fans are simply reading too far into the meaning of the lyrics and that the new songs could serve little purpose in terms of significant personal value. However, it may be that Styles has finally come to terms with himself, and is using his platform of entertaining to come out to the world.
Whether the rumors turn out to be true or not, Styles’ refusal to accept gender and sexuality labels have been a refreshing change from the traditional messages of popular music about exclusive heterosexuality. He is one of the few well-known artists to discuss such pressing issues, and, luckily for both his millions of supporters and casual listeners, he is doing so in the form of an amazing new song. Without the confirmation of Styles himself, however, fans may never know the true extent of his sexuality. Meanwhile, his fans will continue to support him whether he defines his sexual preference or continues to defy societal norms.
