During his monologue on Saturday Night Live, Harry Styles took a sharp jab at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following the former prince’s arrest last month. Styles used the platform to highlight Andrew’s recent controversies.
The 32-year-old singer returned to host the popular NBC show for a second time, riding the wave of success from his fourth album, which recently topped the charts.
In his opening remarks, Styles humorously addressed his extended time away from the limelight, jokingly suggesting that he had become ‘immensely boring.’ He went on to remark that his period of inactivity seemed preferable to Andrew’s very public downfall.
Andrew has faced intense criticism due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This relationship has brought significant negative attention to the former royal.
In the previous month, Andrew, who is eighth in line to the British throne, was taken into custody on charges related to misconduct in public office. Allegations claim that he provided Epstein with confidential information while serving as a UK trade envoy.
Despite these allegations, Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing connected to his ties with Epstein.
Harry Styles took a scathing swipe at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during his Saturday Night Live monologue, after disgraced ex-Prince was arrested last month
Harry said: ‘I took up jogging. There’s nothing interesting about that. But because I’m me, people pretend to find that interesting. I don’t run to be interesting. I do it for the feeling it gives me, that runner’s high. It’s just amazing.
‘Watermelon sugar high, runner’s high. And if that doesn’t do it for you, I also love ecstasy. As a British man who spent a lot of his life in the public eye, I can assure you, there’s something nice about being boring. It’s better than the alternative.’
It was at this moment that an image of Andrew in the back of a police car following his arrest appeared on the screen.
Having been evicted from the Royal Lodge over his links to Epstein, police took Andrew into custody from his cottage at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate on his 66th birthday as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.
He spent around 10 hours at Aylsham Police Station before being released shortly before 7pm.
It is thought that the UK Government could introduce legislation to have Andrew removed from the line of succession amid the scandal which has seen him lose his royal titles.
During his monologue, Harry also took a swipe at politically correct fans who have accused him of ‘queerbaiting’.
‘Queerbaiting’ refers to a PR ploy of hinting at same-sex relationships without confirming them outright, in order to strike a balance between enticing a gay viewership and not repelling homophobic audiences.
Last month, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he provided Jeffrey Epstein with sensitive information during his time as a UK trade envoy
The pop star faced the allegations head-on when he compered the show this weekend, reflecting on his previous time hosting in 2019.
‘Back then, people seemed to pay a lot of attention to the clothes I was wearing and some people accused me of something called “queerbaiting,”‘ he said, adding in a comically melodramatic howl: ‘But did it ever occur to you that maybe you don’t know everything about me, Dad?’
By the end of the monologue, he grabbed SNL star Ben Marshall and locked lips with him, then turned to camera and said with a wink: ‘Now that’s queerbaiting.’
The kiss came at the end of a flirty bit about the One Direction alumnus’ new solo album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.
He said he ‘loved’ the title ‘because what’s better than kissing all the time?’ – prompting Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman to bound hopefully onstage.
‘Which I don’t actually do. I don’t wanna kiss all the time,’ Styles then said, apparently taking no notice of Fineman, who slunk off crestfallen.
Her co-star Sarah Sherman then took the stage as Styles said that ‘sometimes kissing can be great,’ only for her to then leave abashed as he clarified: ‘you know, if you’re really good at it and you’re a good person.’
Styles added: ‘Or if you have a tight little bum,’ at which point Ben Marshall strolled onstage, where he was greeted by Styles, who asked: ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Well, you said “tight little bum,” so where’s my kiss?’ asked Marshall, to which Styles replied: ‘Come on, Ben, everyone knows there’s nothing little about that thang. You’re hauling a damn wagon back there.’
‘Facts,’ said Marshall, and with a smile Styles said: ‘Whatever, come here,’ drawing Marshall in and planting a smooch on his lips that drove the audience wild.
