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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
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”.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.”
ADVERTISEMENT
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
Trending
With bonuses, Erling Haaland is earning over £865,000 a week at Manchester City
Danny Jones
This doesn’t exactly make for comfortable reading in the middle of a cost of living crisis, but a report claims to have broken down how much Erling Haaland is on a week at Manchester City. It’s a lot.
According to Mail Plus’ Mike Keegan, the 22-year-old striker is earning nearly £900,000 a week and while this might sound like a ridiculous amount even for a footballer, there is a quite an easy explanation as to why the approximate figure is so massive: bonuses.
In case you have noticed, the Norwegian goal machine is absolutely hammering the Prem already with 14 goals and three assists in just eight games. He’s also on five goals from three appearances in the Champions League. The way it’s going, he could break all kinds of records.
More poignantly, although he is said to be on a ‘basic’ wage of around £375,000 a week, his incredible return has already seen him earn a number of goal bonuses and is inevitably going to secure several others by the end of the season.
While Keegan could not break down the specifics of how much his add-ons are worth individually, he stated that Haaland is effectively earning over £865,000 a week and on track to net a cool £45 million for the year.
Despite the cost of living crisis, following the most recent government budget, footballers are actually set to make an estimated £240,000 extra a year following tax cuts – not that Haaland, or any of them need it.
But, seriously, what is it with this guy and ridiculous numbers? It’s genuinely got to the point where joking or not, people are creating petitions to have him banned from competitive football.
City have managed to tie down a truly generational talent for five years, meaning he will almost certainly be at the club until 2027 at the very least. Chances are, given their chronic success over the past decade, he will probably stay long past then.
That’s the league done and dusted for the foreseeable then.
He could go down as one of the greatest to ever do it, at least in front of goal anyway and whether you’re a blue or not, we should just be grateful we get to watch a player of his calibre in our lifetime.
Asda praised for launching £1 cafe meal deal for over 60s to help with cost of living
Emily Sergeant
People have been heaping praise on Asda for launching a £1 meal deal for over 60s at all in-store cafes to help with the cost of living.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to make its impact felt nationwide, and inflation now at a 40-year record high of 10.1%, one of the UK’s largest supermarket retailers has announced a range of new ‘winter warmer’ initiatives to support its customers and community groups who are struggling with the rising costs.
The supermarket is offering all over 60s the chance to enjoy soup, a roll, and unlimited tea and coffees for just £1 in any of its 205 cafes.
The offer will be running all day and every day throughout November and December.
Asda says it is “stepping up its support for older customers” as they continue to be “disproportionately affected” by spiralling living costs – with the supermarket’s latest Income Tracker showing those aged 65 to 74 experienced a £163 drop in disposable income in August, compared to last year.
Age UK also estimates that 2.8 million older households will still be living in fuel poverty this winter, despite the Government freezing the energy price cap.
We’ve announced three new ‘winter warmer’ initiatives to support customers and community groups struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, including a £1 meal deal for the over 60s in all our cafes throughout November and December. Read more here: https://t.co/3OepkMkBJRpic.twitter.com/dHCdHBO4Ht
The new £1 meal deal initiative for over 60s will also run alongside the supermarket’s current ‘kids eat for £1’ offer – which the retailer says continues to be hugely popular.
“We know that this winter is set to be incredibly hard for thousands of pensioners as they worry about how to keep themselves warm in the face of rising living costs and a fixed income,” Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa said on the launch of the meal deal initiative.
“We’ve already been able to serve over half a million meals through our Kids Eat for £1 initiative in our cafes and we’re hoping our new offer of soup and hot drinks for over 60s will prove just as impactful for those who need it most.”
Other initiatives announced by Asda during economic uncertainty include the supermarket’s charity, the Asda Foundation, providing funding worth £500,000 in the form of grants to support community groups that are struggling with rising operating costs or increased demand for their vital services.
Asda has been praised for launching £1 cafe meal deal for over 60s to help with cost of living / Credit: ASDA
Priority for grants of up to £2,000 will be given to groups and charities that need financial help to cover increased energy costs, or to those who want to use their facilities to create ‘warm banks’ – which are spaces where people can keep warm this winter if they are unable to afford to heat their homes.
The supermarket is also running a ‘Community Cuppa’ campaign in its cafes.
This will be done by creating spaces for community groups who “may otherwise struggle to meet due to rising energy costs”, with spaces available on weekdays in November and December from 2pm – 6pm and all those visiting receiving unlimited free tea or coffee.
Emily Sergeant -
8th September 2022 
