Harry Styles is causing quite a flap on social media now that to some outtake photos have surfaced showing him dressed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
The singer dons a seashell bra, green tail and flowing red wig in a series of photos taken by Mary Ellen Matthews ahead of his appearance as host and musical guest on a November 2019 episode of Saturday Night Live. At the same shoot, Styles dressed as a ballerina. (The fun photos of hosts are used as bumpers on the show.)
In some of the images, Styles is seen holding a cigarette and a champagne flute.
The shots were a wink to Styles having passed on playing Prince Eric in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid.
As it happens, the pop star has a mermaid tattooed on his left forearm. In 2014, he reportedly told Hollywood Life: “I am a mermaid.”
Styles has frequently had fun with gender stereotypes. Last November, he made history by wearing a dress on the cover of Vogue.
Perhaps needless to say, the photos of Styles as Ariel sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Here’s a look at some:
the real reason harry didn’t audition for prince eric was because he wanted to play ariel smh pic.twitter.com/3axRn3GJ6X
— vale ✪ (@CONNEXWITABLE) April 16, 2021
harry turned down the role of prince eric because he wanted to be ariel. it’s a fact pic.twitter.com/rOVDwjsoF6
— ً (@freddcury) April 16, 2021
ariel and prince eric are the best disney couple pic.twitter.com/pqjsmdihDA
— carly☀️| dj era (@codyko123) April 16, 2021
harry styles said i can do both pic.twitter.com/D0pqYF4Y8O
— mar (@haloscopy) April 16, 2021
can you draw me like one of your french girls? pic.twitter.com/7vrsdqpGWI
— . (@STYLESARCHlVE) April 16, 2021
We're not same bro
— || Zeno¹ᴰ ☕ || (@Zeno_1D) April 16, 2021
Ur Ariel My Ariel pic.twitter.com/84WIIlxPhF
✨Ariel ✨ pic.twitter.com/DxjhaIWuXe
— sof◟̽◞̽ (@tundosofia) April 16, 2021
this was how harry styles turned down the role in “the little mermaid”
— ari (@arisolorio_) April 16, 2021
harry: either i’m the main character or i’m not doing it
production: well technically ariel is the main character but prince eric is just as interesting i promise
harry: oh so you want a little mermaid... pic.twitter.com/PnISiht6dB
Ariel walked so Harry Styles could swim pic.twitter.com/OcbRojEsdI
— otella, odella, nutella (@mnllhz) April 16, 2021