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Harry Styles melted hearts everywhere as he gave his One Direction band members a shoutout in his Brit Awards acceptance speech and, honestly, we’re a pile of mush.
The As It Was singer, 29, has had a stellar 2023 so far (and it’s only February), fresh off his success at the Grammys, where he took home two trophies, including album of the year.
Continuing to prove he’s truly unstoppable, Harry took home even more awards at the 2023 Brits, including best pop/R&B act, which was fan-voted.
Taking to the stage to deliver his acceptance speech for best artist, Hazza reduced us all to tears as he thanked Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne for the five years of memories they made as 1D.
He even thanked Zayn Malik, who left the superstar boy band in March 2015, ahead of their hiatus at the end of that year.
Taking to the microphone for the second time that night, Harry began with the sweetest tribute to his loving family, and a nod to his reality TV days.
Harry Styles took him his second award of the night for artist of the year (Picture: Getty)
‘I wanna thank my family for being the most supportive, understanding, patient family,’ he praised, with his sister, Gemma, at his table in the audience.
Harry added: ‘I wanna thank my mum for signing me up for the X Factor without asking me.
‘I also wanna thank Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn. I wouldn’t be here without them.’
Harry then went on to acknowledge his ‘privilege’, after being nominated in the all-male category.
After the Brits went gender neutral for the first time last year, the awards received immense backlash for only nominating men in the artist of the year category.
The singer celebrated with a shot with comedian Mo Gilligan, because why not? (Picture: PA)
Along with Harry, Central Cee, Fred Again, George Ezra, and Stormzy were recognised.
Harry added in his acceptance speech: ‘I’m very aware of my privilege up here tonight.’
He then dedicated the award to the women eligible for the artist of the year category, who were not shortlisted: Rina Sawayama, Charli XCX, Florence + The Machine, Mabel, and Becky Hill.
Harry opened the Brit Awards 2023 with an energetic performance of his hit As It Was (Picture: Getty)
Harry’s Grammys acceptance speech divided viewers, provoking discussion on ‘privilege’ (Picture: AFP)
His classy speech followed criticism of Harry’s Grammys acceptance speech, in which he divided viewers by expressing that ‘things like this don’t happen to people like me.’
While some accepted that he was talking about his working class roots, others were unsure, stating that ‘things like this’ do, in fact, happen to white men very often.
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Especially as Harry won the award over Beyoncé and Latin artist Bad Bunny, critics declared his win as a sign of a ‘white male privilege’.
One commented: ‘“This doesn’t happen to people like me very often” you are literally a white man.’
However, many others – particularly from the UK – jumped to Harry’s defence and suggested that the singer was referring to his upbringing in Holmes Chapel, rising to fame on The X Factor and not having the benefit of nepotism.
Brit Awards 2023: Full winners list
Hip hop/grime/rap act
Aitch
International artist
Beyoncé
Dance act
Becky Hill
Pop/R&B act
Harry Styles
Best new artist
Wet Leg
Artist of the year
Harry Styles
International group
Fontaines D.C.
Group of the year
Wet Leg
International song of the year
Beyoncé, Break My Soul
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Harry shouted out the female artists eligible who were not shortlisted.