Harry Styles draws MAGA backlash after tribute to ICE shooting victim at NYC concert

Lauren MartinezMon, October 12, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC

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Harry styles faced backlash after his tribute in concert -Credit:Getty Images for HS (Getty Images for HS)Harry Styles sparked a fierce MAGA backlash after dedicating a moment at his Madison Square Garden concert to Oscar Belgal, the man shot by ICE agents in the Bronx

Harry Styles has drawn criticism from prominent MAGA figures after he dedicated a portion of his New York City concert on Saturday, October 10, to acknowledge a man shot by ICE agents.

The former One Direction member, 32, was performing at New York's Madison Square Garden just days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot Oscar Belgal, 28. Authorities claimed Belgal attempted to drive his vehicle into agents during a targeted enforcement operation in the Marble Hill neighborhood of the Bronx.

Styles has now publicly shared his views on the shooting incident, after previously using his residency at Madison Square Garden to share a heartelt tribute to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which came after he had faced backlash over his ticket artwork.

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Styles said, "I just want us to take a moment to think about Oscar Belgal tonight. I want to just think and remember to just look after each other. It is up to us to make these cities that we live in places we want to see, it is up to us to make the world a place we want to see and give to our children, so please continue looking after each other."

He continued, "And remember, your friends, the people you love, the people who don't look like you, and aren't born where you are from – they deserve respect and love and dignity and justice."

Harry Styles gave a shoutout to Oscar Begel -Credit:AFP via Getty Images

However, his comments quickly drew fierce criticism from the MAGA crowd. Fox News host Tomi Lahren spearheaded the backlash, sharing a video on X in which she ridiculed Styles for expressing support for an "illegal alien thug" while failing to acknowledge police officers who had been attacked by Dominican gang members.

"Excuse me, this person was in the country illegally," Lahren said. "[He] fled law enforcement at least one time, and has a rap sheet a mile long. That person does not belong in our 'community,' certainly doesn't make our 'community' safer."

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Others echoed Lahren's sentiments, highlighting that although Styles owns an apartment in New York, his main home is located in the U.K., in a predominantly non-diverse neighborhood.

Tomi Lahren slammed Styles for the move -Credit:Getty Images for Politicon

Another person wrote, "Harry Styles, a british millionaire stood on stage at Madison Square Garden and lectured Americans about respecting illegal immigrants.."

While another chimed in, "Harry Styles doesn't even live here. His main home is in Hampstead, one of the richest neighborhoods in London, where he's spent around £18 MILLION buying up four houses on the same street to build a private compound with a gatehouse. His first house there sits behind high walls and gates. The neighborhood is 78% white, and only 2% of residents are Black...Nothing says 'open borders' like buying out the whole block so nobody can get near you.

Someone else snarked, "Can we deport Harry Styles too? Asking for a friend...."

Oscar Begel was shot during an immigration enforcement operation -Credit:U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

While a fourth wrote, "Harry Styles is an elitist POS!" and a fourth fumed, "I've been dying to know what Harry Styles thinks...NOT!".

According to DHS, Belgal, whose five-year-old son was in the backseat of his car when he was shot by agents, was previously convicted of grand larceny and had "multiple prior arrests for assault, robbery, possession of drugs, and weapons possession."

Belgal was a Dominican national who allegedly entered the US at an unknown date and had ties to the Trinitarios gang.

The shooting has sparked new backlash against ICE -Credit:New York City Police Department

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated he was part of an investigation into the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer the previous year and had fled from officers in September.

Court records from New York reveal he was arrested for robbery in 2023 and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny, receiving five years of probation. He was additionally arrested on drug charges last year and has pleaded not guilty, according to CNN.

DHS further alleged he had an immigration detainer in place, which grants ICE the authority to take custody of immigrants held in criminal detention, yet Belgal was released following his earlier arrest.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”