Fans went into meltdown as Harry Styles indulged in a gay kiss with Saturday Night Live star Ben Marshall during his latest opening monologue on the sketch show.
He was taking a swipe at politically correct fans who have scolded him for ‘queerbaiting’ with such past moves as wearing gender-bending clothes, playing a gay man in the film My Policeman and being publicly vague about his own sexuality.
‘Queerbaiting’ refers to a PR ploy of hinting at same-sex relationships without confirming them outright, in order to strike a balance between enticing a gay viewership and not repelling homophobic audiences.
The 32-year-old pop act faced the allegations head-on when he compered the show this weekend, reflecting on his previous time hosting in 2019.
‘Back then, people seemed to pay a lot of attention to the clothes I was wearing and some people accused me of something called “queerbaiting,”‘ he said, adding in a comically melodramatic howl: ‘But did it ever occur to you that maybe you don’t know everything about me, Dad?’
By the end of the monologue, he grabbed Marshall and locked lips with him, then turned to camera and said with a wink: ‘Now that’s queerbaiting.’
Fans went into meltdown as Harry Styles indulged in a gay kiss with Saturday Night Live star Ben Marshall during his latest opening monologue on the sketch show
The kiss came at the end of a flirty bit about the One Direction alumnus’ new solo album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.
He said he ‘loved’ the title ‘because what’s better than kissing all the time?’ – prompting Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman to bound hopefully onstage.
‘Which I don’t actually do. I don’t wanna kiss all the time,’ Styles then said, apparently taking no notice of Fineman, who slunk off crestfallen.
Her co-star Sarah Sherman then took the stage as Styles said that ‘sometimes kissing can be great,’ only for her to then leave abashed as he clarified: ‘you know, if you’re really good at it and you’re a good person.’
Styles added: ‘Or if you have a tight little bum,’ at which point Ben Marshall strolled onstage, where he was greeted by Styles, who asked: ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Well, you said “tight little bum,” so where’s my kiss?’ asked Marshall, to which Styles replied: ‘Come on, Ben, everyone knows there’s nothing little about that thang. You’re hauling a damn wagon back there.’
‘Facts,’ said Marshall, and with a smile Styles said: ‘Whatever, come here,’ drawing Marshall in and planting a smooch on his lips that drove the audience wild.
Viewers at home were similarly delighted, racing to X, formerly Twitter, with reactions like: ‘Y’ALL. IM SCREAMING,’ and a crying emoji.
By the end of the monologue, he grabbed Marshall and locked lips with him, then turned to camera and said with a wink: ‘Now that’s queerbaiting’
The 32-year-old pop act faced the allegations head-on when he compered the show this weekend, reflecting on his previous time hosting in 2019
The ‘queerbaiting’ furor occasionally rested on his gender-bending outfits, such as at his ‘Harryween’ event at Madison Square Concert on October 30, 2021
Earlier in 2021, he attended the red carpet of the Grammys in this striking ensemble that included a purple feather boa and a plunging v-neck
Viewers at home were delighted with the viral moment, racing to X, formerly Twitter, with reactions like: ‘Y’ALL. IM SCREAMING,’ and a crying emoji
‘ENDED THE QUEERBAITING FREAKS SO FAST,’ one exulted as another quipped: ‘One thing Ben Marshall is gonna do is GET him a handsome man to kiss.’
‘I can’t believe he mentioned the queerbaiting,’ a fan marveled, as another squealed: ‘BEN KISSED HARRY HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT?’
Overheated observers shrieked: ‘HARRY STYLES AND BEN MARSHALL JUST KISSED?’ and: ‘OMG OMG OMG THAT KISS THAT SHOULD BE ME.’
Styles was pulling double duty that evening, acting as both the host and the musical guest and performing Dance No More from his new album.