Harry Styles gives touching onstage tribute to NYC’s ‘incredible resilience’ on 25th anniversary of 9/11

Harry Styles honored New York’s “incredible resilience” during his concert Friday night as the city marked 25 years since Sept. 11.

Styles acknowledged that being at his show that day was “incredibly difficult” for many people.

“I want us to take a moment to think about the incredible resilience of this city,” Styles, 32, said on stage, according to a video shared via X. “I want us to take a second to think about the events that not only shaped this city but [also] shaped the century that we live in.”

He also paid tribute to the New Yorkers and first responders who lost their lives that day, as well as those around the world who died in its aftermath.

Harry Styles (pictured above at the 2026 BRIT Awards) paid tribute to New York City during his concert on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11. Jeff Spicer/Redferns
Styles (seen above on stage at Madison Square Garden Friday) honored the “incredible resilience” of the city and remembered those who lost their lives that day. abbeybonadies/ tiktok

Styles said there weren’t “really any words [he] could say” about the tragedy, adding that he “remember[s] it so well” despite being just 7 years old when it happened.

“I remember walking home from school and my world becoming completely different,” he recalled. “There aren’t really words to describe something like that, but there’s a song that I’ve always loved by a legendary New Yorker, Bill Evans, called ‘Peace Piece.’

“It’s always been an incredibly important song for me. It’s brought me a lot of peace, and I listen to it in moments of reflection.”

Styles (pictured above in promos for his March “SNL” episode) said he remembers Sept. 11 “so well” despite being just 7 years old when it happened. Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty Images
Styles (seen above at the 71st Ivor Novello Awards) recalled “walking home from school and [his] world becoming completely different.” Vianney Le Caer/Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Ivors

Styles then invited the audience to put their phones away and close their eyes as his bandmate, Yaffra, performed a rendition of the song on the piano.

The moment came during the eighth night of Styles’ 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden, which he announced in January as part of his “Together, Together” tour.

Styles came under fire Wednesday over the artwork featured on the physical ticket for his show that night, which showed a yellow car seemingly carrying him flying over the Empire State Building.

Styles (pictured above on stage at Madison Square Garden on opening night of his residency) invited the audience to put their phones away while his bandmate performed a rendition of Bill Evans’ “Peace Piece.” Anthony Pham/Shutterstock
Styles (seen above on night two of his 30-night residency) sparked backlash Wednesday over the artwork featured on the physical ticket for his show that night. Anthony Pham/Shutterstock

The imagery appeared just two days before the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, prompting some social media users to call the choice “a little bold” and “f–king insane.”

“bro, that’s wild,” one social media user wrote, with another chiming in, “literally, who approved this? 😭”

Styles has made headlines throughout the residency, from a cheeky comment about ex Taylor Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce to a surprise tribute to Dolly Parton on opening night, just one day after the country music legend died.

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