Skip to main content

Home Culture Culture Film & TV

Olivia Wilde defends Harry Styles as critic says ‘society can’t survive without strong men’

Conservative commentator Candace Owens was reacting to Harry wearing a dress in Vogue, saying "bring back manly men"

By Jamie Tabberer

Olivia Wilde has defended Harry Styles after conservative commentator Candace Owens slammed him for wearing a dress.

‘Watermelon Sugar’ singer Harry donned a dress for his recent cover feature with US Vogue – becoming the first man to take the accolade in the publication’s 128-year history.

However, Owens took issue with the former One Direction star’s look, and expressed her views on social media.

“Bring back manly men”

“There is no society that can survive without strong men,” wrote the 31-year-old over the weekend. “The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence.

“Bring back manly men.”

Actress and director Wilde – who has cast Styles in her upcoming movie Don’t Worry Darling alongside Little Women‘s Florence Pugh – later defended her colleague on social media.

“You’re pathetic,” the star – who first rose to fame on The O.C. – tweeted Owens. 

Owens replied in a since-deleted tweet (as per the Daily Mail): “You’re single for a reason.”

It was recently reported that Wilde had split from her actor fiancé Jason Sudeikis.

We’re team Harry and Olivia all the way…

Read the full interview in the Attitude December issue, available to download and to order globally now.

Subscribe in print and get your first three issues for just £3, or digitally for just £1.54 per issue.