Harry Styles has received a public apology from autograph hunter Giovanni following a heated encounter between the pair in New York earlier this week.
Giovanni addressed the incident in a statement posted on Instagram on Friday, accepting responsibility for his behaviour and apologising to the former One Direction singer.
The 32-year-old musician was seen arguing with Giovanni, who was carrying a stack of records he wanted Styles to sign. During the confrontation, the two men were filmed pointing at each other before Giovanni followed Styles and his bodyguard through the streets of New York.
Giovanni Says Harry Styles Remained Calm
In his statement, Giovanni disputed reports suggesting that Styles had lost his temper during the exchange. He said the singer had remained calm throughout the encounter and had even helped him regain his composure.
“Harry didn’t lose his cool, I did. He stayed calm and even helped calm me down,” Giovanni said.
He explained that he wanted to clarify what had happened after headlines about the confrontation circulated.
“I want to clear up some of the headlines about my recent encounter with Harry Styles in NYC,” he wrote.
“Harry has always been a gentleman to me, going all the way back to 2012 when he first signed for me.”
Influencer Apologises for Being Out of Line
Giovanni said his behaviour had been influenced by a difficult day and acknowledged that he had acted inappropriately towards Styles.
“The truth is, I was having a bad day and I was out of line. Harry was actually totally chill about the whole situation and even helped calm me down,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that the singer had been responsible for escalating the disagreement.
“The headlines suggesting Harry lost his cool couldn’t be further than the truth. If anything, I was the one who needed to cool down.”
Giovanni concluded by accepting responsibility for the incident and expressing regret over his actions.
“I take responsibility and sincerely apologise to Harry. He’s always been cool with me, and he deserves nothing but respect,” he said.
Styles Had Sought Privacy During New York Outing
Styles is frequently spotted running or walking near his home in London and during visits to the United States.
However, during his latest New York outing, the singer appeared to be keeping a low profile. He wore a navy jumper, a grey baseball cap and sunglasses when the confrontation took place.
The incident comes as Styles has spoken about how a former girlfriend helped him become more comfortable spending time outdoors and moving around in public.
Harry Styles Explains How a Former Girlfriend Changed His Outlook
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Styles discussed his approach to being out in public during a conversation with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke.
Yorke said he had been surprised to see Styles walking down the street without an obvious security presence.
“I was also impressed that you were just walking down the street. I was like, ‘Where’s his security?’” Yorke said.
He added that he had not realised Styles could move around so freely and asked whether it was a deliberate choice.
Styles explained that, during his early years with One Direction, he had often felt confined by the band’s hotel arrangements. When he returned home, he believed going outside could be unsafe.
He said his perspective began to change when he was dating a girlfriend who enjoyed going out and exploring.
“Then I had a girlfriend who was very outgoing, and she was coming to London and I was like, ‘Oh, if we just sit in my house for three days, she’s gonna think I’m nuts’,” Styles said.
“So we walked everywhere, and it was this realisation for me, ‘Oh, it’s fine to be outside’.”
Walking Helps Styles Stay Connected to the World
Styles said the experience had significantly changed his relationship with public spaces and everyday life.
“It kind of broke that thing. Now it’s changed my life in such a big way, because it’s how you stay connected to the world,” he said.
The singer may have been referring to his past relationship with Taylor Swift, whom he dated in 2012, during the height of One Direction’s success. Swift was 22 at the time, while Styles was 18.
He also discussed the value of walking as a way of observing everyday life, saying it allowed people to notice things they might miss when travelling by car.
“I read something about walking being the artist’s kind of perspective, because you’re at ground level and you see things that you just don’t see if you’re driving everywhere,” he added.
