Harry Styles was reportedly held at knifepoint on Monday, 17 February 2020, and is one of the many celebrities who are being personally targeted by armed men.
Harry Styles is one of those celebrities who remain under the radar more often than not, unless he is promoting his music or another business deal. He is not one to flash his expensive items or travel to expensive destinations, and very rarely shares details of his personal life on social media. This made me question, was this purely a coincidental attack, or was the attacker one of the people who specifically target the rich and famous?
One of the other notorious attacks that happened in recent years was Kim Kardashian’s Paris robbery incident. According to reports, the attacker paid attention to Kim’s social media profiles, where she often shared imagery of her jewellery. In a 2017 episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim explained that the robbers had come specifically for the jewellery she had showcased, and that was the reason she took a break from social media. Since then, Kim has returned to her old self in the public eye, however, she has toned down the luxury posts.
In 2011, the movie The Bling Ring was released, which showcased a group of Hollywood teens breaking into the homes of the rich and famous, in order to steal their designer clothes and jewellery. This highlighted the fact that celebrities were being targeted for showcasing their assets to the public, giving them access to where they live and what they’re doing.
The question of Harry Styles’ attack remains tricky to me. Out of all the flamboyant celebrities out there, why did they target him? Perhaps the trend is to now attack the unassuming or to keep a closer eye on rising celebrities in comparison to those who flaunt all that they have.
Sayushka Naidoo
