Harry Styles doesn’t think you should text him either

Love is a battlefield. We sang along to the popular Pat Benatar song long before we knew it was true. We may have attributed the statement to Jenna Rink in *that* 13 Going on 30 scene, but it was wisdom beyond our years regardless of where we learnt it.

Years later, Jordin Sparks reminded us of the same thing. “Don’t try to explain your mind,” she crooned. She knew what was happening here. “One minute it’s love, and suddenly it’s like a battlefield.” She never meant to start a war though. 

Navigating the murky world of romantic pursuits is a tricky business for anyone these days. Try doing so alone, without the help of close friends, family and favourite singers, and you’re liable to fall at the first hurdle. We’ve all sent a screenshot of a seemingly offhand comment into the group chat for a second opinion. If you haven’t tried to dissect the meaning behind every emoji, GIF and grammatical choice then you’re either lying or are just far better at modern dating than I. 

That said, if there’s one person whose opinion we* (read, *I) value above all others, it’s that of Harry Styles. Clearly not alone in asking myself “what would Harry Styles do?” on the regular, one fan recently got an answer directly from the horse’s mouth. 

Currently travelling across the US as part of his Love on Tour show, the singer’s latest concert saw him stop off at Saint Paul in Minnesota. Welcoming 18,000 fans inside the Xcel Energy Centre for the gig, Harry spotted one fan sign that caught his attention. “Should I text him?”, it asked. First putting the question to the audience, they were quick to respond and it was a unanimous “no” across the board. 

“should i text him?” TRASH TRASH TRASH!!@Harry_Styles pic.twitter.com/B2cvfzzAKW

— ????, ???. ?? (@alliefriese) September 23, 2021

Considering what he would do in such a situation, Harry then gave his own thoughtful response. “In my opinion, if you should [text him], then this isn’t even a question,” he began. “If we’re wondering, ‘Should I text him? Should I not text him? I can’t text him too soon. Now we’re thinking about double texting, and that’s a whole different risky business. Now he’s thumbs’ed it, so technically he’s the last one to do something’… It’s a whole thing,” he continued.  

“My personal opinion is that if there’s any sort of games, trash, trash, trash, not for you.” Mic. Drop. 

Delighting the crowd with his insight, the former One Directioner’s sage advice also gave a subtle nod to the movie The Notebook – of which we can only assume he’s a fan. Quoting a scene from the cult classic romance drama, Harry referenced a line Mrs Hamilton said to her daughter Allie when fighting about her relationship with Noah Calhoun. First telling her that Noah is “a nice boy”, Allie’s mother quickly drops the facade and admits her true opinion of him, saying that he is “trash, trash, trash. Not for you.” 

Allie may not have necessarily listened to what her parents had to say, but Harry Styles disapproving is another thing… what he says goes and if he tells you not to text him, you absolutely listen. 

A clip of the interaction, posted online after the concert was over, has since gone viral and,  unsurprisingly, the internet is very much in favour of his approach. In fact, one fan discovered that it’s not the first time he’s referenced The Notebook before either. 

just harry styles and his obsession with the notebook pic.twitter.com/6y3QhLyzDk

— emms! me day ? (@solarpowerhs) September 23, 2021

does harry styles know i quote his lyrics in my daily life the way he quotes the notebook

— come as you are harry’s lover?jip’s clone ? (@404SNFLWR) September 23, 2021

imagine a guy asking you why you didn't text him and you have to say "sorry harry styles told me not to and then he called you trash" ?

— ali xx in chicago!! (@xorainbowlouis) September 23, 2021

Harry Styles, The Notebook and some pretty spot-on dating advice; the trifecta.