Yahoo News Harry Styles' fans trend #RespectHarry after star is groped during concert
Harry Styles’ fans have been left enraged after a video clip of the star being groped during his latest performance appeared online.
The One Direction star was one of the many musicians to take to the stage for the ‘We Can Survive’ concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles last night [21 October], CBS Radio’s annual concert in aid of National Breast Cancer Awareness month.
![Harry was performing at the We Can Survive concert. Copyright: [Rex/ Twitter]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6Gv9QuzaP4BUGbBUWS4bug--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/b66eb47c3c1726b3e46039970ef8bc88)
Harry, who recently concluded the North American leg of his debut solo tour, was partway through a performance of fan-favourite ‘Kiwi’ when a fan grabbed his crotch.
In the clip, the 23-year-old singer is on his knees in front of fans when the grope occurs, with a clearly startled Harry quickly pushing the fan’s hand away as he jumps up, although his performance doesn’t falter.
Speaking about the incident, an eye-witness shared: “Near the end of performing ‘Kiwi’, like usual, Harry went to the very front of the stage to get the crowd extra excited. He got down onto his knees and was shaking his arms to the music with his eyes closed.
WTF!!! When your favorite artist is close to you, this does not justify you touching him in this way. #RespectHarry pic.twitter.com/0PdUGR6nN2
— ً (@___VXXIIS) October 22, 2017
“A fan then reached out and touched his crotch. He very quickly got up and appeared to also shove their hand a little bit to remove them faster.
“You can tell it freaked him out a little because as he continued performing, he avoided the section that fan was standing in.”
![Harry pushed the fan’s hand away. Copyright: [Twitter]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HWFc6dyQg2epkway1frutw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk5OA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/8e4951403bfad90993a3f2e5333ca2c2)
The star’s fans have leaped to his defence on social media, with #RespectHarry trending on Twitter as the girl who grabbed Harry was slammed for sexual assault.
They wrote:
Harry deserves appreciation, support and respect from us. Harry is not an object, he is a human, you should always remember that.
Treat ALL people with kindness AND respect. #RespectHarry
— best harry pics (@TheStylesFandom) October 22, 2017
I'm in tears. Harry has created such a safe space for everyone, and this is how he's repaid? Sexual assault? I just… #RespectHarry
— BeWithMeSoHappily (@Happily_Larry_) October 22, 2017
Public Service Announcement: Celebrities are human beings. Harry Styles is a human being. He is not a sexual object #RespectHarry
— Luke Waltham (@lukewaltham) October 22, 2017
This is a prime example that men are not the only ones that touch women without permission! Women also sexually assault. #RespectHarry
— ✮ⓁⒾⓆⓊⒾⒹ (@LiQuId_PlaGuE) October 22, 2017
#RespectHarry ALSO, YOU DO NOT GRAB SOMEONES CROTCH WITHOUT CONSENT IT OBVIOUSLY FREAKED HIM OUT. HARRY, WE LOVE YOU.#PROTECTHARRY
— just like Gita (@GGandelsman) October 22, 2017
He's a person like you.Please stop doing this kind of things not just with Harry but with everyone, everyone deserves respect. #RespectHarry
— Fatima is seeing HS. (@h_little_spoon) October 22, 2017
Harry is not an object where you can touch him without his consent #RespectHarry
— mira (@_almiraflorendo) October 22, 2017
Harry has enjoyed monumental success as a solo artist since One Direction went on hiatus at the end of 2015, with the singer’s debut solo album charting at number one across the globe.
He also won critical acclaim for his first Hollywood blockbuster role in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’.
Yahoo Celeb UK have contacted Harry’s reps for comment.
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Read more:
[ Manchester Attack victim guest of honour at Harry Styles’ BBC special ]
[ Louis Tomlinson heaps praise on ‘amazing’ Harry Styles ]
[ Harry Styles performs with gay pride flag at first concert of solo tour ]
