Harry Styleshas a big fan in none other thanBoy George.The ‘90s music icon, 62, shared his opinions on the Grammy winner on Monday’sepisodeofSherri, when hostSherri Shepherdcredited him for paving the way for people to be “free” in how they dress and gave a nod to Styles, 30, in particular.“When I see Harry Styles doing what he’s doing, I love it,” Boy George said of his fellow British musician, who has hadmany statement fashion momentsthroughout his solo career. “I am very supportive. I think it’s great.”The “Karma Chameleon” singer went on to call Styles a “dandy,” which he described to Shepherd, 56, as “anyone with great style.”“It’s not about sexuality, really, it’s just about wanting to stand out,” he clarified of the term.Boy George in London in May 2019; Harry Styles in London in February 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImage; JMEnternational/GettyFrom the early days of his career with Culture Club, Boy George became synonymous with a genderfluid style and form of expression.In his first-ever feature with PEOPLE in 1983, the musician’s father, Jeremiah O’Dowd, said of his son’s style: “He began to dress outrageously at 15 and suffered considerably. But he refused to give in.“Boy George said of people’s perception of him, “It’s people’s attitudes that have changed, not me.”At the time of the interview, he was rocking an exotic braided hair look, which cascaded down his chest. “I started wearing my hair like this just out of boredom,” he said at the time. “I had long hair and couldn’t think of what to do with it.”Boy George on ‘Sherri’.ANDREW WERNER/SHERRI/DEBMAR-MERCURYAs for Styles, his 2020Voguecover — which featured him posing ina Gucci lace-trimmed dress and tuxedo jacketand made him the first man to be on the cover of the storied magazine — marked a turning point in the conversation about the formerOne Directionsinger’s style choices.Billy Porter, for one,wasn’t a fan. As a symbol of gender-fluid fashion himself, Porter toldTheTelegraphlast year, “It doesn’t feel good to me. You’re using my community — or your people are using my community — to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”Though Porter said he wasn’t “dragging” Styles for the look, he added, “I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to. I created the conversation [about nonbinary fashion] and yetVoguestill put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time.“Harry Styles performs during the BRIT Awards in London in February 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Styles’ former One Direction bandmateLiam Paynehad a starkly different response and “thought it was great,” as he said onCapital Breakfast With Roman Kemp.“I think he’s enjoying himself and he’s free to do as he wishes,” Payne, now 30, said at the time. “And, you know, I just think that people don’t need to be so bothered about stuff. There’s been a lot more stuff going on this year than whether or not he’s wearing the right clothes in someone else’s mind.”
Harry Styleshas a big fan in none other thanBoy George.
The ‘90s music icon, 62, shared his opinions on the Grammy winner on Monday’sepisodeofSherri, when hostSherri Shepherdcredited him for paving the way for people to be “free” in how they dress and gave a nod to Styles, 30, in particular.
“When I see Harry Styles doing what he’s doing, I love it,” Boy George said of his fellow British musician, who has hadmany statement fashion momentsthroughout his solo career. “I am very supportive. I think it’s great.”
The “Karma Chameleon” singer went on to call Styles a “dandy,” which he described to Shepherd, 56, as “anyone with great style.”
“It’s not about sexuality, really, it’s just about wanting to stand out,” he clarified of the term.
Boy George in London in May 2019; Harry Styles in London in February 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImage; JMEnternational/Getty
Karwai Tang/WireImage; JMEnternational/Getty
From the early days of his career with Culture Club, Boy George became synonymous with a genderfluid style and form of expression.
In his first-ever feature with PEOPLE in 1983, the musician’s father, Jeremiah O’Dowd, said of his son’s style: “He began to dress outrageously at 15 and suffered considerably. But he refused to give in.”
Boy George said of people’s perception of him, “It’s people’s attitudes that have changed, not me.”
At the time of the interview, he was rocking an exotic braided hair look, which cascaded down his chest. “I started wearing my hair like this just out of boredom,” he said at the time. “I had long hair and couldn’t think of what to do with it.”
Boy George on ‘Sherri’.ANDREW WERNER/SHERRI/DEBMAR-MERCURY
ANDREW WERNER/SHERRI/DEBMAR-MERCURY
As for Styles, his 2020Voguecover — which featured him posing ina Gucci lace-trimmed dress and tuxedo jacketand made him the first man to be on the cover of the storied magazine — marked a turning point in the conversation about the formerOne Directionsinger’s style choices.
Billy Porter, for one,wasn’t a fan. As a symbol of gender-fluid fashion himself, Porter toldTheTelegraphlast year, “It doesn’t feel good to me. You’re using my community — or your people are using my community — to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”
Though Porter said he wasn’t “dragging” Styles for the look, he added, “I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to. I created the conversation [about nonbinary fashion] and yetVoguestill put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time.”
Harry Styles performs during the BRIT Awards in London in February 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Styles’ former One Direction bandmateLiam Paynehad a starkly different response and “thought it was great,” as he said onCapital Breakfast With Roman Kemp.
“I think he’s enjoying himself and he’s free to do as he wishes,” Payne, now 30, said at the time. “And, you know, I just think that people don’t need to be so bothered about stuff. There’s been a lot more stuff going on this year than whether or not he’s wearing the right clothes in someone else’s mind.”
source: people.com
