Harry Styles brilliantly responded to Candace Owens' criticism of his historic appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine.
Last month, the iconic fashion and lifestyle publication blessed us with its first ever male solo to be featured on the cover with the former One Direction singer posing in a fabulous Gucci gown.
But not everyone praised his gender-breaking portraiture.
In fact, conservative political pundit and Donald Trump supporter Candace Owens was offended and balked at what she interpreted was the singer's feminization of masculinity.
She aired out her grievances on Twitter by pleading for the public to "bring back manly men."
There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization… https://t.co/0ArvBaazmr— Candace Owens (@Candace Owens) 1605381388.0
However, fans and celebrities saw nothing objectionable and they united in support of Styles by bashing Owens' outdated—and potentially damaging—perception about gender norms in fashion and promotion of toxic masculinity.
Harry Styles looks amazing in everything he wears and i stand by that. https://t.co/WFNqgStbYq— vas happenin (@vas happenin) 1605560743.0
Candace Owens really thinks that The harry styles needs her opinion. He can wear whatever he wants pants skirts dre… https://t.co/UhSAm8sA1u— 1d_sydrome (@1d_sydrome) 1605539910.0
It appears the "Watermelon Sugar" singer and Vogue cover model has responded to the controversy by trolling his right-wing disparager...with a banana in his mouth.
He posted a photo of him in a frilly pant suit and puffy sleeves with the edible accessory on Instagram.
For the caption, he regurgitated Owens' words and wrote:
"Bring back manly men."
Fans ate it up.
@Variety I LOVE THE SHADE “bring back manly men” PERIODTTTT https://t.co/au5Ko2rP1E— Victoria🎈⚡️PROUD OF HARRYᴸ (@Victoria🎈⚡️PROUD OF HARRYᴸ) 1606917814.0
Harry Styles shading misogynistic homophobic nincompoops while wearing a feminine suit and biting on a banana with… https://t.co/C18sQVary5— popreset (@popreset) 1606917757.0
@popreset_ I love this. It's such a simple yet perfect middle finger to needless discourse over gender and sex. The… https://t.co/lEqxxwH439— Nil Eneri (@Nil Eneri) 1606941704.0
@Variety @hstbrasil HARRY BEING SHADY OMG I LOVED IT BRING BACK MANLY MEN KWKWKWKWKW— lia ⚔️ | 📖: a redoma de vidro (@lia ⚔️ | 📖: a redoma de vidro) 1606918176.0
The photo came courtesy of Variety's cover story on Styles in which the 26-year-old commented on the Vogue cover scandal.
He said of his taste in fashion:
"To not wear [something] because it's females' clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes. And I think what's exciting about right now is you can wear what you like."
"It doesn't have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred."
The banana bit seemed to have huge appeal online.
candace owens when she finds a pic of harry styles eating a banana in her husband’s phone https://t.co/bnt6USA7DD— victoria ✌🏾 (@victoria ✌🏾) 1606927216.0
And just like that @Harry_Styles has single handedly increased the sale and Worldwide consumption of Bananas!!!!!… https://t.co/rkcNo3nRwA— Gee Cee (@Gee Cee) 1606954547.0
new harry style song “banana” coming out december 24— b ⚡️is seeing louis twice (@b ⚡️is seeing louis twice) 1606935169.0
@Harry_Styles Oh to be a banana..— Dora (@Dora) 1606946188.0
🍌💙@Harry_Styles I don't understand how you can make eating a banana so adorable, you are incredibly cuteeee https://t.co/SYgQkmTZI6— Ainhoa 🎀 (@Ainhoa 🎀) 1606918400.0
Can I be the banana? @Harry_Styles https://t.co/CIruVwf2Q1— Afham🍉 (@Afham🍉) 1606948816.0
Owens responded to Styles' subtle clapback to her earlier criticism by taking credit for it.
However, fans believed she missed the mark when she claimed to have inspired "global conversations."
@RealCandaceO @Harry_Styles miss girl he shaded you not dedicated a post to you— lissy❀ leahs wife ♡’s anna mae & may (@lissy❀ leahs wife ♡’s anna mae & may) 1606921427.0
candace owens thinking that harry agrees with her is my 2020 highlight miss girl really thinks she started somethin… https://t.co/GcvCAQKpUQ— ミ★ (@ミ★) 1606936473.0
@RealCandaceO @Harry_Styles She sounds like a fan. Unfortunately, her hateful comments are inspiring violence again… https://t.co/ZprWFodXav— Frangell Basora (@Frangell Basora) 1606922691.0
@RealCandaceO @Harry_Styles You’ve inspired global conversation because literally the majority of the world disagre… https://t.co/9AFpDLR3J5— Lillie (@Lillie) 1606931630.0
@RealCandaceO @Harry_Styles are you not the WOMAN who wore a suit ? HAHA “ bring back womanly women “ https://t.co/owSItrunc2— maolys - wants harry tickets (@maolys - wants harry tickets) 1606920677.0
Styles previously touched on his clothing choices in Vogue's profile, saying:
"Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with… when you take away 'There's clothes for men and there's clothes for women,' once you remove any barriers, obviously you open up the arena in which you can play."
Well played, Harry.
And please continue taking our breath away in your sensational apparel. We are here for it.