Harry Styles graced the stage of the "We Can Survive Concert" to participate in the cancer awareness benefit event on Saturday. During his set, the One Direction member performed "Kiwi," a song off his self-titled album. Although nothing was wrong with his performance, a video of his presentation has gone viral and has alarmed most of his fans.
In the clip, the singer-songwriter approached the crowd near the stage where some members of the audience seemingly took advantage and touched his chest and crotch areas. The video immediately spread like a wildfire and has caused outrage among concerned fans, forcing them to start an online rally to call out this kind of behavior towards the artist.
This is flat out disgusting and vile. I am sick and tired of his so called "fans" treating him like this, he deserves better #RespectHarry pic.twitter.com/xJKlUnFfY0
— Just like Neko (@larryshighnotes) October 22, 2017
The internet trends #RespectHarry after an alleged assault onstage
Most of them labeled the act as sexual assault, while others emphasized respect towards celebrities. These sentiments have caused #RespectHarry to trend on Twitter amid call to respect the One Direction member.
It’s sad that we still have to do these trends cause people still can’t respect Harry. Call this what it is. Sexual assault #RespectHarry
— nocontrolprojec (@NoControlProjec) October 22, 2017
Harry is NOT a womaniser or a sexual object! Please respect him ❤️he has a kind soul and doesn’t deserve hate or any abuse #RespectHarry
— Alicia Jazmin Lexie. (@AliciaOffic) October 22, 2017
Harry is NOT a womaniser or a sexual object! Please respect him ❤️he has a kind soul and doesn’t deserve hate or any abuse #RespectHarry
— Alicia Jazmin Lexie. (@AliciaOffic) October 22, 2017
Harry Styles has yet to make a comment after the alleged groping incident.
According to ET Online, in a previous interview, the singer-songwriter confessed he has no problem with having a young fanbase. He even defended his young supporters from music critics.
"Who's to say that young girls who like popular music - short for popular right? - have worse musical taste than a 30-year-old hipster guy?" he said.
"That's not up to you to say. Music is something that's always changing."
Harry Styles embarks on tour after One Direction hiatus
Meanwhile, the One Directioner is currently on the road for his first concert tour as a solo artist. The "Harry Styles: Live on Tour" kicked off in September and is scheduled to wrap up in July 2018.
The "Sign of the Times" crooner is penned for a series of shows in Europe from October 25 until November 10, before he will perform for his fans in Singapore on November 23. He also set to hold a three-day concert in Australia, followed by a couple of shows in Japan. The 23-year-old singer-songwriter will conclude the "Harry Styles: Live on Tour" in North America.
The concert tour aimed at promoting Harry Styles' first studio album since One Direction announced their indefinite hiatus in 2016. The eponymous album consists of 10 tracks with all of which were co-written by the artist himself.
Aside from pursuing his music career, the singer-songwriter has also paved his way to the big screen with "Dunkirk" where he starred as a soldier.
