Harry Styles Slammed Over “Insane” 9/11-Like Ticket Artwork Days Before Anniversary

Harry Styles is facing a storm of criticism after artwork printed on a ticket for his Together, Together Tour was compared to imagery from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks-during the very week New York City is marking the tragedy's 25th anniversary.

The controversial ticket was reportedly issued for Styles' Sept. 9 concert at Madison Square Garden. Its reverse side depicts a yellow car, apparently carrying the British pop superstar, flying toward or above the Empire State Building while leaving a long trail that crosses the landmark's spire.

Although the illustration does not show the former Twin Towers, some fans immediately connected the flying vehicle, trailing line and New York skyscraper to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The timing made the design particularly uncomfortable for critics, with the concert taking place just two days before the anniversary.

"Who approved this?" one social-media user asked, while another reportedly described placing the image on a ticket during "9/11 week" as "insane." Others admitted that the artwork may have been intended as a cute, surreal image but argued that somebody on Styles' team should have recognized how it could be interpreted.

Not everyone agreed with the outrage. Some fans insisted that the comparison was a stretch, pointing out that the building is clearly the Empire State Building and suggesting that the brightly colored flying car resembles the whimsical visual world of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine more than any deliberate reference to terrorism.

There is no evidence that Styles or his team intended the image as an allusion to 9/11. At the time of publication, the singer had not publicly addressed the controversy or explained the thinking behind the artwork.

Styles is currently performing a massive 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden as part of his global Together, Together Tour. The New York run supports his fourth solo album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., and represents his only US tour stop.

Whatever the artist's intention, the backlash is a reminder that images do not appear in a cultural vacuum-especially during a week of remembrance for nearly 3,000 lives lost. What may have begun as playful concert art has instead become an uncomfortable talking point surrounding one of pop music's biggest tours.

Read the original report and see the ticket artwork.