Harry Styles Says an Outgoing Girlfriend Cured His Fear of Going Out in Public

Harry Styles is opening up about a side of fame fans rarely see. In a Rolling Stone cover story for the Musicians on Musicians issue, the pop star told Thom Yorke that his One Direction years left him feeling unsafe just leaving the house. The pressure and recognition made the outside world feel off-limits.

What changed things was a girlfriend at the time who was very outgoing. He said they walked everywhere together in London, and somewhere along those walks came a simple but huge realization: it’s fine to be outside. He credits that shift with changing his life, because it’s how you stay connected to the world. He also touched on how success can make life feel less human, and why staying grounded matters for his songwriting.

These days Styles is reportedly engaged to Zoe Kravitz, and the two have been spotted out together often, proof that the walks did their job. It’s a rare, human look at what fame costs, and how a relationship helped him find his way back to normal life. What’s the one everyday thing you’d miss most if you couldn’t go out in public? Let us know in the comments.