Accusing Musicians of Queerbaiting is Dangerous: Here’s Why

BY GITIKA SANJAY (SHE/THEY)

Pearl necklaces, and sequined jumpsuits. A sheer tulle jumpsuit on the Met Gala stairs. Boas, skirts, vests, and dresses - Harry Styles is not afraid to be bold with his fashion. 

However, while Styles’s extravagant clothing has added to his ever-growing popularity, it has also become the center of a debate around his sexuality. A number of critics and viewers have started to accuse Styles of a practice known as queerbaiting - hinting at LGBTQ+ themes and identities to trick fans.

The concept of queerbaiting did not start with Styles: it has a long and complex history that traces back to historical censorship laws. Writers, unable to explicitly portray LGBTQ+ relationships and characters in media, instead utilized stereotypical characteristics in a process called queercoding, first described in Vito Russo’s groundbreaking novel The Celluloid Closet. Over time, queercoding strengthened the stereotypes in question, leading to associations between gay men and feminine expression. 

As censorship laws were repealed through the late 20th century, the entertainment industry was faced with a dilemma: provide genuine queer representation and risk facing backlash from religious audiences, or avoid queer representation and face backlash from LGBTQ+ audiences. Queerbaiting was the ideal solution, allowing media companies to edge into elements of LGBTQ+ culture, attracting queer viewers without alienating conservative fanbases. 

Over the last decade, awareness around the dangers of queerbaiting have been brought into the spotlight. Several franchises, such as The CW’s Supernatural and BBC’s Sherlock, have been criticized of hinting at a romance between same-sex characters with no intention of canonizing it. The relationships, therefore, serve no purpose other than to lure queer viewers into following the series. 

Considering this context, it’s straightforward to see why some members of the LGBTQ+ community have turned a scrutinous eye on Styles. When Styles embarked on his solo career after five years in One Direction, he exchanged his trademark frat-boy appearance for more dandyish, fluid tastes. He began to bring pride flags on stage, help fans come out during shows, and wear dresses for photoshoots, most notably on the cover of Vogue. With his painted nails and androgynous couture, Styles seemed like a textbook example of queerbaiting, especially when he avoided making a public declaration about his sexuality.

Styles isn’t the only musician who has been accused of queerbaiting. Billie Eilish, when promoting the music video for her song “Lost Cause,” posted a photo on Instagram with her female dancers captioned “i love girls.” Ariana Grande collaborated with out bisexual singer Victoria Monet on the song “Monopoly,” where both artists sing about liking “women and men.” Taylor Swift’s song “Lavender Haze,” was largely thought to portray a queer love story, as the color lavender has historically represented the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, Swift’s sexuality has been speculated on frequently due to her close friendships with other women.

But queerbaiting isn’t that simple. The criticism Styles has received from the LGBTQ+ community is representative of a larger problem where queer identities are only validated by coming-out statements or public proclamations of sexuality. It is dangerous to restrict queerness in this way; gender and sexuality have never been closed doors. There are no requirements to be queer, nor are there any rules or regulations. Excluding ambiguity from queer spaces effectively serves to only further stereotype LGBTQ+ people, rather than emphasize general acceptance. 

When audiences force their artists to publicly speak on their sexuality, it often backfires: take Heartstopper’s Kit Connor, for example, who was pushed into coming out as bisexual due to allegations of queerbaiting. After harassment from fans who viewed Connor as a straight man building his career on a queer fanbase, Connor took to Twitter. He wrote: “back for a minute. i’m bi. congrats for forcing an 18-year-old to out himself.” In Connor’s situation, the judgment and accusations from fans pushed him into making a statement he wasn’t prepared to make.

Society’s perception of gender and sexuality must change to embrace a more fluid attitude to people’s identities. Queerness is not something that must be outwardly confirmed or denied; it is a personal journey. 

“[It’s] outdated,” Styles spoke on the topic with Better Homes and Gardens. “I’ve been really open with it with my friends, but that’s my personal experience; it’s mine. 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.”

While fans can and should expect Styles to publicly support the LGBTQ+ community - which he has through fundraising for GLSEN and auctioning for London Friend - they cannot push him to label his sexuality. Styles expresses himself for his own pleasure and to represent his predominantly queer fanbase, and his self-expression cannot be confined by labels.

"I want to make people feel comfortable being whatever they want to be," Styles said in an article with Rolling Stone. "Maybe at a show you can have a moment of knowing that you're not alone." As he waves a pride flag on stage, met with cheers and applause from the roaring crowd, fans know he means every word.