September 8, 2022
Watch: Harry Styles, in Concert, Jokes about Spitting on Chris Pine
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"Don't Worry Darling" star Harry Styles made light of the recent internet furor around speculation he might have spat on co-star Chris Pine at the film's premiere in Venice, joking during a concert that he flew all the way to Italy just to shower Pine with some saliva.
"At the 'As it Was' singer's Madison Square Garden concert Wednesday night, Styles joked about the viral video footage dividing the internet," People Magazine reported.
Variety detailed that Styles told his audience: "This is our tenth show at Madison Square Garden. It's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful to be back in New York. I just popped very quickly to Venice to spit on Chris Pine."
Added the "Watermelon Sugar" singer: "But fret not, we're back!"
The idea that Styles had let loose with a loogie on Pine added fuel to the frenzy of rumors that tension exists between the film's director, Olivia Wilde – who is reportedly dating Styles – and the film's female lead, Florence Pugh.
CNN recalled that "people on the internet went wild after footage from the film festival showed Styles approaching Pine to take a seat next to the actor at a screening of the thriller."
"As Styles moved to his seat, he made a subtle 'puh' motion with his mouth. Pine then looked down at his lap, paused his applause, shook his head and grinned as if there may have been some kind of joke between the two stars."
Even if there was a joke going on, it didn't involve any spit – at least, not according to Pine's PR person, who told Variety that the internet's obsession with the moment was "the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation."
Added the rep: "Just to be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist."
"The pop star will finish up his 15-night residency at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 21, and then play several multi-night runs in Austin, Chicago and Los Angeles through November," a followup article in Variety noted. "Don't Worry Darling" hits theaters Sept. 23.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
