In a bold move during his Saturday Night Live monologue, Harry Styles took aim at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who recently faced arrest following a series of controversies. The singer, now 32, graced the NBC stage for his second appearance as host, riding the wave of success from his fourth album, which has climbed to the top of the charts.
Styles made light of his hiatus from the public eye, joking about becoming ‘tremendously boring’ during his absence. He drew a stark contrast between his own quiet spell and Andrew’s very public downfall, using the moment to deliver a sharp critique.
The former Prince Andrew has been under intense scrutiny due to his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, he was arrested under suspicion of misconduct in public office, amidst allegations of providing Epstein with sensitive information during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.
Despite the allegations swirling around him, Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to his ties with Epstein. The scandal has nevertheless cast a long shadow, marking a significant turning point in his public image.
Last month, the eighth-in-line to the throne was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he provided Epstein with sensitive information during his time as a UK trade envoy.
He has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to his friendship 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.
