Harry Styles pays tribute to victims of Oslo shooting in heartfelt speech

5th July 2022

Harry Styles got emotional as he delivered an empowering speech to the crowd at his recent Oslo concert.

The singer is beloved by fans as an outspoken ally to LGBTQ+ community and on Friday (1 July), he took to the stage to share his devastation at the recent attacks which took place in Norway’s capital during the city’s Pride celebrations.

“I am well aware that, right now, this means more to you than it ever has before,” the As It Was hitmaker began, while raising a rainbow LGBTQ+ flag above his head.

“I just wanna tell you that I’m very sorry and I hope you all feel safe in here with each other,” he continued.

Despite his voice growing thick with emotion, Styles pushed on with his inspiring message: “The atmosphere that you’ve created here, allowing people to feel safe and to be themselves, and I know that in difficult times it is hard to feel like you can make a difference.

“I promise you that each and every single one of you make a difference by the small choices, the tiny choices that you make every day to be that little bit kinder to someone, to do that little bit extra for someone – it makes the difference.”

Styles thanked his fans for their support and their kindness, saying that it was an “honour” to perform for them and adding that the thing he is “most proud of” is “getting to play in front of such an incredible, loving group of people every night”.

Speaking to young fans in the crowd, he continued: “There are old people, and I promise you that they don’t stand a chance against you because this room of people, you are the future.”

Styles rounded off his speech with the tender message: “I love you so much, I thank you for allowing me to do this, I encourage you, even in the darkest times, to love more, to give more, to embrace more, be kind more.”

He then asked the audience to “pump all the love that you have into this room” for the remainder of the concert.

The suspect, who has been named as Zaniar Matapouro, was detained just three minutes after police arrived at the scene. He has been charged with attempted murder and murder and the incident has been treated as terrorism.

Norway’s LGBTQ+ population has remained defiantly courageous in spite of events.

On Saturday (25 June), thousands marched towards the LGBTQ+ venue that was affected during the attacks.