Brooke & Shoals founder Alison Banton on success, scents and trusting yourself
Brooke & Shoals founder Alison Banton on success, scents and trusting yourself

Edaein OConnell

Annabelle Fleur: A week in my wardrobe
Annabelle Fleur: A week in my wardrobe

Edaein OConnell

The life lessons I learned from online dating
The life lessons I learned from online dating

Suzie Coen

This tiny house in Leitrim took just €25,000 – and 50 days – to build
This tiny house in Leitrim took just €25,000 – and 50 days – to build

IMAGE Interiors & Living

Andrea Manning: ‘You have to take those big scary leaps’
Andrea Manning: ‘You have to take those big scary leaps’

Fiona Alston

24 wedding guest outfits we’re loving from ASOS
24 wedding guest outfits we’re loving from ASOS

Sarah Gill

Women in Sport: Personal trainer and fitness influencer Nathalie Lennon
Women in Sport: Personal trainer and fitness influencer Nathalie Lennon

Sarah Gill

You returns and Tom Hardy battles crime in Havoc – what to watch this week
You returns and Tom Hardy battles crime in Havoc – what to watch this week

Edaein OConnell

Inside the 1970s Limerick property that won Home of the Year 2025
Inside the 1970s Limerick property that won Home of the Year 2025

Sarah Gill

Chef Conor Spacey shares his life in food
Chef Conor Spacey shares his life in food

Sarah Gill

Image / Living / Culture

Harry Styles doesn’t think you should text him either


By Sarah Finnan
27th Sep 2021

Harry Styles / Instagram

Harry Styles doesn’t think you should text him either

Harry Styles shared some dating advice with fans at a recent concert and he 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. 

https://twitter.com/alliefriese/status/1440891509507772417

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. 

https://twitter.com/solarpowerhs/status/1441042596080455690

https://twitter.com/xorainbowlouis/status/1440873191795163143

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

Feature image via @harrystyles