Harry Styles has finally broken his silence and addressed the claims that he spit on Chris Pine after a video appearing to show him do so went viral online.
It’s been quite the whirlwind week for Harry Styles.
In case you need catching up a bit, the 28-year-old pop icon has recently ventured into acting and has taken on his first leading role in the upcoming drama film Don’t Worry Darling – which is directed by his partner Olivia Wilde, and stars Oscar-nominated Florence Pugh, Nick Kroll, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, and of course, Chris Pine.
The film is due for release at the end of September, but it has premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival this week – and has been grabbing headlines for a variety of reasons ever since.
To sum up all the drama and controversies surrounding the film would probably mean that we’d be here all day, but by far one of the most talked-about moments from the festival has, bizarrely, been whether or not Harry Styles spits on his co-star Chris Pine as he sits down in his chair to watch a screening of the film.
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Caught live on camera, Chris Pine’s shocked reaction to the supposed ‘spit gate’ interaction had fans convinced that it happened, and only added to the growing rumours that there was a rift between the two men.
The footage subsequently went viral online, and racked up millions of views and saw people weigh-in with their opinions in their thousands.
While many were convinced from the initial viral video that the Cheshire singer does, in fact, spit on his co-star, videos of the interaction from other angles began circulating on social media shortly after which disapproved the widely-believed claims as it looked like Styles did nothing of the sort.
This only left the world even more in doubt and demanding answers.
First, Chris Pine’s team released a rather serious statement quashing the rumours and calling it a “ridiculous story”.
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A spokesperson told People Magazine that it was “a complete fabrication” and “the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation”.
“Just to be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist.”
But the silence by Styles was becoming deafening.
Chris Pine's Rep Responds to 'Ridiculous' Claim That Harry Styles Spit on Him: 'Complete Fabrication' https://t.co/AUVJ58CiOo
With days passing, the drama growing, and Styles or his team of representatives yet to address the spitting claims, the singer finally appeared on stage in New York at Madison Square Garden and told the audience of doting fans the truth they’ve all been waiting to hear.
No, he didn’t spit on Chris Pine.
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Seeming very amused by the whole situation, Styles comically tells the audience: “This is our 10th show at Madison Square Garden, and it is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful to be back in New York.
“I just popped very quickly to Venice to spit on Chris Pine – but fear not, we’re back.”
Harry Styles: "It's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful to be back in New York. I just popped very quickly to Venice to spit on Chris Pine." pic.twitter.com/TUGOSoQPxw
Most people were able to pick up on the sarcastic tone Styles took with his response to the situation, but, as there often is, not everyone realised he was joking.
“He definitely spit on him,” one person said on Twitter, while another questioned: “DAMN IT, DID YOU OR DIDN’T YOU?!?! …. Why am I so invested in this?”, and a third added: “But did he do it?”
Others took it as a chance to poke fun at people who didn’t realise the irony, with one commenting: “I think my favourite part is how many people don’t realise he’s making a joke at their expense. He’s both right and wrong for this and I love it and I’m here for it.”
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Another said: “Even more strange how so many people are taking this as confirmation it happened as opposed to him joking about how dumb the notion was.”
The majority of people, however, are just glad it’s all over.
“And with that, SpitGate comes to a close. Great job everyone. A terrific 48 hours.”
Featured Image – Twitter
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This Manchester hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package for pets to help keep them calm
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most luxurious hotels is transforming into the ultimate pet refuge again over the firework season.
Bonfire Night is loved across the UK for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that go along with it, but the November annual event isn’t so fun for our four-legged friends, as fireworks can be frightening to pets due to loud bangs, flashing lights, and the unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives.
With multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays too, pets are rarely able to pinpoint where the booming explosions are coming from, only making it more terrifying for them.
This is why, after becoming a huge success following its launch last year, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the heart of the city centre has brought back its special ‘Bonfire Night Escape’ escape package, turning the already pet-friendly hotel into a firework-free sanctuary.
The hotel‘s year-round ‘PAWfect Stay’ package includes any dog staying at no extra cost, plus a pet tuckbox, a guide to the best dog-friendly places in the city, and a toy waiting for them in the room, but this fireworks season, pet owners will also get a luxury hamper including Pet Remedy’s ‘Party Season Survival Kit’
The kit comes together with a range of fast-acting products to help immediately in stressful situations such as fireworks, and includes calming spray, a plug diffuser, and some calming wipes too.
On top of that, dog owners can also take advantage of the hotel’s Music Concierge service, which allows guests to request a record player and vinyls to be placed in the room ahead of check in – with lots of classical and relaxing music records available to distract anxious pets from the noise of Bonfire Night celebrations.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package to help keep pets calm / Credit: Elisha Terada (via Unsplash)
The award-winning The Refuge Bar and Restaurant inside the hotel also offers a menu of carefully-curated dog treats throughout the week, as well as doggy Sunday roasts all Sunday.
David Lockhart, who is the General Manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said he likes to think of the hotel as a “home-away-from-home for our guests”.
“Our top priority is making sure everyone is feeling safe and comfortable,” he added. “We can’t wait to welcome our November guests and help them care for their four-legged family members, giving them everything they need.”
The Bonfire Night Escape package at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is available to book from Friday 1 November, subject to availability, and you can request the package via the hotel concierge or by emailing [email protected] to book.
Scissor Sisters confirm reunion after more than a decade ahead of massive Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Still a firm cult favourite from the 2000s, Scissor Sisters are officially back and are bringing a special reunion tour to Manchester and the UK and Ireland at large.
The American outfit were one of the biggest and most well-known pop groups on this side of the Atlantic during their heyday, notching three BRIT Awards and two number-one albums.
Starting out in New York, like many bands in an oversaturated music market, they ended up proving to be much more popular here in Britain than they ever did in the US, not to mention becoming real icons among the LGBTQ+ community.
And now, over a decade later, the Scissor Sisters are set to repay the likes of Manchester, Leeds, London and more with a series of comeback shows, including one at Co-op Live arena – a gig which the venue has already teased earlier this week.
Confirming the reunion on social media on Thursday, 10 October, the band said: “Exciting news, for the first time in over a decade, we will come together again, live next May across the UK and Ireland.
“And for the first time ever, our debut album Scissor Sisters will be performed in full in celebration of its 20th anniversary – alongside all the other Scissor hits from along the way… See you very soon. Jake, Babydaddy, Del.”
Long-time fans were quick to notice that there was no mention of fellow founding member Ana Matronic nor former drummer Randy Real; the band themselves told BBC that the current lineup following their indefinite hiatus is by no means a way of replacing anyone but does give them a chance “to get some people on stage and ask some friends to do fun things.”
Frontman Shears’ 2023 Cabaret co-star, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was also teased with a possible appearance on the Scissor Sisters reunion tour. Either way, they’ve promised a “little bit of chaos, anarchy” and an “‘anything can happen’ energy again.”
It’s been 12 whole years since we last saw them out on the road, so it’s only fitting that they give us a dozen UK/IE dates, starting at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena before bringing the comeback party down the home stretch in Dublin.
Scissor Sisters are set to stun the Manchester crowd with their Co-op Live debut on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, with special guest support from Alison Goldfrapp of the iconic electronic music duo, and we truly really can’t wait to roll back the years with them.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 6 November at 10am which you can access via their website and general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Friday, 8 November.
We can’t wait to hear all the favourites – ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin”, ‘Take Your Mama’ and more – but, until then, the announcements coming out of Manchester’s biggest new music venue just don’t stop…
Emily Sergeant -
8th September 2022 
