AS the biggest heart-throb on the planet, Harry Styles is the last person you’d expect to be ringing in New Year alone.
But the pop superstar has revealed how he “shut out” the world after struggling to live up to the “perfect” image his fans projected on to him.
In a candid new interview, the 32-year-old, who kicked off a record-breaking 12-night run at Wembley Stadium on Friday, said: “I was supposed to spend New Year’s with friends and I landed in Italy and felt really unwell, so I just went home.
“And I woke up and I had this kind of beautiful New Year’s by myself. I was feeling the most alone I’d felt in a really long time, but in the most beautiful way. I didn’t feel lonely at all.”
Harry added that he became a “hermit” after his last tour ended in 2023.
Flying into Italy for a “quiet time”, he rejected all invites as he recuperated from the gruelling Love On Tour series of live shows.
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In an interview on the Q With Tom Power podcast, Harry said: “I was just feeling myself kind of shut out from a lot of the world.
“I think I got used to saying no to invites from friends and maybe a weekend trip or a birthday party or something.
“I just got used to, you know, if I have a week at home, I don’t want to go somewhere else for three days. I just want to stay home.
“And when I got to Italy and was in this quiet place, I felt like, ‘OK, if I’m going to spend all this time out here and I’m going to keep saying no to everything, I’m just going to shut myself off from the world’.”
Harry released his latest album — Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally — in March and it immediately shot to No1 in the charts.
And his Together, Together tour is currently making history at London’s Wembley.
But the As It Was singer admits that he struggled to live up to his fans’ adoring perception of him, saying: “I had this relationship with my own image where people had this projected version of me that was perfect.
“And when the standard you hold yourself to is this perfect person, it’s impossible not to feel like you’re falling short.”
He confessed that any criticism could take a devastating toll, saying: “If you don’t feel great about yourself and someone says you’re terrible, it’s like the claw is in and it’s ripping you.
“But if you have a more solid sense of yourself, you can hear those things and it doesn’t destroy you in the same way.”
It is a frank admission from a man who has conquered the world of pop, and America, after spending half his life in the glare of the global spotlight.
Harry was 16 when he stepped on to The X Factor stage in 2010, where music mastermind Simon Cowell grouped him with four other hopefuls to form One Direction.
What followed was global hysteria. And as the breakout star of the record-breaking boy band, Harry was propelled from a quiet Cheshire upbringing into a whirlwind of stadium tours and platinum records.
He then defied the odds to build a critically acclaimed solo career, with hits such as Watermelon Sugar, and a £235million fortune, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
But during his period of isolation in Italy, Harry realised that avoiding the downsides of global fame also meant missing the best parts of life.
He added: “You can sit at home and think it’s hard for me to do these things — people are looking at me, taking pictures. But when you shut out those things that might be negative, you also shut out a ton of positive things.
“If you think it’s hard to go to a bar and hang out with friends because people might act a certain way, there are also incredible people you could meet in that bar that you’re shutting out.”
Taking his own advice and stepping back into the world clearly paid off.
It was during this period that Harry met his fiancée, US actress Zoe Kravitz.
The couple, who began dating in late 2025, are reportedly planning a small wedding in London this winter.
Harry also said that he has spent the past two years learning to love himself and accept that he can make mistakes.
He said: “I’m still figuring a bunch of stuff out and it’s OK to have a little self-compassion around making mistakes. For a long time, I struggled to admit when I’d made a mistake because the reward when you meet people’s expectations is so loud and shiny.”
Ultimately, Harry believes that taking a step back from the spotlight saved him.
He reflected: “Having time to sit at home and be bored and really look at the emotions I was feeling allowed me to lean into them instead of being afraid of them.
“And it means I’m now in a much healthier place than I was last time I was putting music out.”
Now back on the road, he wants his latest dance-pop record to be less about his personal life and more about his fans’ experiences.
He said: “With this record, I want the listener in the front seat and I’m in the seat behind you.
“It’s not really about me or what clubs I’m going to or who I’m hanging out with — it’s about you having your own experience.”
He smashes first of historic 12 nights
EVER the charismatic charmer, Harry pranced around the stage with mammoth energy and gusto on the opening night of his record-breaking, 12-night, homecoming residency at Wembley.
He even laid on a special treat for his mum Anne Twist, with her favourite singer, Shania Twain as his support act.
The country music legend’s vocals were flawless and she warmed the crowd up well with her hits Man! I Feel Like A Woman! and That Don’t Impress Me Much.
But the gig, which marks the release of Harry’s fourth album – the eccentrically-titled Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally – was all about the pop heart-throb.
He has a relaxed air about him now. It is far from his first rodeo, yet performing for 80,000 fans is no mean feat.
Harry was feeling the love and in a grateful mood, twice referencing X Factor – the show which catapulted him to global fame – and his family, who were watching from the crowd.
He said: “Just outside of this building 16 years ago, my sister brought me to London for the very first time for my X Factor audition.
“So driving here today, and anytime I come through Wembley, means so much to me. It was in that building that I was put into a band, my sister is here tonight. It means a lot to be here tonight.”
He added: “My mum entered me into the X Factor without me knowing and I wouldn’t be here today if she hadn’t done that, so thank you so much. You changed my life, all of you, so thank you so, so much.”
Harry’s devoted fans performed their own dance routines to his songs, above, which involved lying on the ground in formation to the joyful Fine Line and doing a mass conga to the electric Treat People With Kindness.
One thing’s for sure, Harry’s certainly at home on stage . . .
Ariana risk for musical
RUMOURS are sweeping theatreland that Ariana Grande is set to drop out of musical Sunday In The Park With George.
The singer was due to appear opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey at London’s Barbican Centre next summer, but ticket sales have been delayed until autumn.
I’m told that bosses have also met with actresses who could step in to replace Ariana, who last week kicked off her energetic Eternal Sunshine Tour.
A source said: “Ariana has a lot on her plate and there are concerns she is over-subscribed.
“It’s too risky to start flogging tickets until it’s all locked down. It will be a demanding production with eight shows a week.”
In the last few years, Ariana has transformed herself into a fully-fledged actress as Glinda in the Wicked films.
She will appear in the 13th series of American Horror Story and will voice a character in the 2028 animation Oh, The Places You’ll Go!.
Ariana, whose tour includes a ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena in August, said: “I’m very excited to do this small tour. But I think it might not happen again for a long, long time.”
I hope we do get to see her treading the boards . . .
Wa-Haye David
DAVID HAYE is on dating site Raya “looking for a third” for a throuple with him and girlfriend Sian Osborne.
The ex-boxer posts with a tux snap: “I’m a selfish p***k, nothing is ever good enough. I always want more, rarely satisfied. But I’m working on it.”
THE Isle of Wight Festival kicks off on Thursday with some surprises in store.
As well as headliners Calvin Harris, The Cure and Lewis Capaldi, chief John Giddings says: “We’ve introduced new areas, the Last Chance Saloon, our country music destination, and new onsite pub Wild Horses.”
John also revealed that Sir Paul McCartney had the craziest rider.
He said: “We had to track down a nail technician to apply acrylic nails to strengthen his fingernails for playing acoustic guitar.
“And Jay Z wanted somewhere private to have dinner with Beyonce, so we ended up hosting them in the Boat Museum and our caterers took care of it.”