Harry Styles' mum praises his Vogue cover dress following right wing backlash

Harry Styles’ mum has said how proud she is of him for wearing a dress on the cover of Vogue magazine, following a right wing backlash accusing him of attacking masculinity.

The One Direction star has been targeted by conservative commentators in the US for wearing a blue lace Gucci ballgown as he became the first man to appear solo on the cover of the fashion magazine.

Styles’ mum Anne Twist told Lorraine: "I think maybe I had something to do with it.

Read more: Harry Styles: I ran into traffic to escape robbers in Valentine's Day mugging

"I was always a big fan of doing fancy dress with them [Harry and sister Gemma] when they were smaller, which Gemma hated but Harry always embraced.

"But who doesn't love dress up?"

She added: “I am [proud]. Harry is just Harry really. He’s always been Harry!”

Watch: Harry Styles is the first-ever solo male 'Vogue' cover star

US political commentator Candace Owens triggered a debate on Twitter when she accused Styles of endangering “manly men” with his decision to pose in a dress for the magazine.

The conservative Trump supporter tweeted: “There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.”

Fellow Republican supporter Ben Shapiro commented: “Pretending that men dressing like women does not feminise men is ridiculous, particularly coming from the same people who are celebrating Styles BECAUSE he is feminising masculinity.

“The Left knows this, of course. The POINT of Styles doing this photo shoot is to feminize masculinity. Otherwise why would it be headline-worthy for Styles to don a dress?.”

Many have hit back to point out that 26-year-old singer Styles posing in a dress is nothing new – with pictures of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain all wearing dresses for photoshoots in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Read more: How well do you know One Direction?

Model and singer Karen Elson tweeted: “Real women want men to stop behaving in toxic ways which makes the lives of women a misery. PS Harry Styles looks great in a dress and I’ve gathered from people who “know” him he’s quite a manly man...dress and all.”

Actor Zach Braff commented: “Our whole lives boys and men are told we need to be manly. Life is short. Be whatever the f*** you want to be.”

The Good Place star Jameela Jamil said: “Harry Styles is plenty manly, because manly is whatever you want it to be, not what some insecure, toxic, woman-hating, homophobic dickheads decided it was hundreds of years ago. He’s 104% perfect.”

Actor and director Olivia Wilde tweeted in reply to Owens: “You’re pathetic.”

Watch: Stylist, Antonia O'Brien, shares some top fashion tips when it comes to enhancing your working from home wardrobe