Harry Styles Explained Why He Doesn’t Put A Label On His Sexuality, And He Thinks The Concept Is “Outdated”

In a new interview with Better Homes and Gardens, Harry opened up about why he doesn’t put a label on his sexuality — and how it felt to maintain a private life as a member of One Direction.

In the interview, Harry talks about the “cleanliness clauses” in his contract as a member of One Direction — meaning that if he stepped out of line in the label’s eyes, his career would effectively be over.

“For a long time, it felt like the only thing that was mine was my sex life,” he said. “I felt so ashamed about it, ashamed at the idea of people even knowing that I was having sex, let alone who with.”

“But I think I got to a place where I was like, why do I feel ashamed? I’m a 26-year-old man who’s single; it’s like, yes, I have sex.”

The stress of maintaining a private life was intense enough that, when he found out his current contract with Columbia didn’t feature any “cleanliness clauses,” he burst into tears. “I felt free,” he said.

Harry also spoke on why he doesn’t like putting labels on his sexuality while discussing it in public.

“I’ve been really open with it with my friends, but that’s my personal experience; it’s mine,” he explained, while referring to the concept of labeling one’s sexuality as “outdated.”

“The whole point of where we should be heading, which is toward accepting everybody and being more open, is that it doesn’t matter, and it’s about not having to label everything, not having to clarify what boxes you’re checking.”