Celebrity accents have been all the buzz this week. It started off with people thinking Kim Kardashian is starting to sound like Pete Davidson to the now hotly divisive discussions online about the ever-changing accent of Harry Styles.
The ex-One Directioner, who is set to release his third album Harry’s House on Friday 20 May, sat down for an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe. In it, the legendary pop star discussed numerous subjects that were both vulnerable and enlightening—opening up about the impact of success, his relationship with therapy and how he was “thankful” to Billie Eilish for liberating him.
But that’s not what the internet is in a flutter about. No, apparently Styles is ‘pulling a Liam Payne’ with a confusing accent that has left fans stumped.
“I’m sorry but between his Apple Music and Howard Stern interview I literally can not get over Harry Styles’ new Australian accent. What in the Liam Payne is going on,” BuzzFeed celebrity reporter Stephanie Soteriou wrote, referring to the infamous viral accent Payne debuted at an Oscar Party.
Other users felt Styles’ accent had become more Americanised. “No I need to know what the hell [Harry Styles’] accent is and where the hell has it come from! It’s gone Doncaster to Alabama,” one tweet read. Another wrote, “I love Harry Styles so much but what’s with his accent—so many different accents in one. “That’s the accent of a lad who has come back from his gap year travels,” a third said.
Emily Baker, the TV Editor at The i, also admitted: “I shan’t be watching or engaging in any of the Harry Styles interview content because I cannot stomach the change in his lovely northern accent. Thanks for understanding.”
The artist is set to debut a one-off show at Brixton’s O2 Academy on Tuesday 24 May as part of the new album release following a similar one-off show in New York on Friday 20 May. Meanwhile, his Love On Tour stadium shows in the UK are set to begin in June.