Harry Styles SNL Recap: Ben Marshall Kiss, One Direction History, and Everything From Last Night's Show
Harry Styles delivered one of the most talked-about Saturday Night Live episodes of Season 51 on March 14, 2026, pulling double duty as host and musical guest while promoting his new album and addressing years of public speculation head-on. The Ben Marshall kiss moment is already viral worldwide.
What Time Was SNL and Where to Watch
Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streams live on Peacock. An ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including Saturday Night Live, for $11 per month. The episode is also available on-demand on Peacock the following day.
Harry Styles SNL Monologue: The Ben Marshall Kiss That Broke the Internet
Styles opened his monologue by addressing queerbaiting accusations that have followed him for years. The monologue built to a punchline in which cast member Chloe Fineman appeared onstage and exited in dismay as Styles made pointed remarks about kissing. Sarah Sherman followed with a similar reaction. Featured player Ben Marshall then stepped forward, and Styles leaned in for a kiss on stage, declaring, "Now that's queerbaiting."
The bit was rehearsed as part of the monologue and received no pushback from cast or crew. The clip amassed millions of views within hours of broadcast, with fans praising it as one of Styles' most direct and humorous responses to years of public speculation about his sexuality.
Is Harry Styles Gay? What He Said on SNL
Styles addressed the queerbaiting question directly on SNL, leaning into the debate with humor rather than a definitive statement. He has not made any personal declaration about his sexuality. The monologue moment is widely being read as a playful, self-aware reclaiming of the narrative rather than a coming-out moment.
Harry Styles Performs "Dance No More" and "Coming Up Roses"
Styles performed two songs from his fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, opening with "Dance No More." His second performance was "Coming Up Roses," which he performed at the piano. Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson produced the 12-track album, which Styles wrote or co-wrote entirely.
Paul Simon appeared to introduce Styles' second performance of "Coming Up Roses." Simon's connection to Styles runs deep — Styles has publicly described One Direction's "Walking in the Wind" as a direct homage to Simon's album Graceland.
Ryan Gosling Returns the Favor
Styles couldn't introduce himself before his first musical performance, so Ryan Gosling stepped in to do the honors — returning the favor after Styles crashed Gosling's own monologue the previous week during the Project Hail Mary star's hosting gig.
SNL Sketches From Last Night: Full Recap
Standout sketches included "MAHAspital," a parody medical drama presented by RFK Jr. and a Facebook group, with James Austin Johnson playing RFK Jr. and Veronika Slowikowska as a certified energy healer. "Sparkle of the Sea" featured Styles and Chloe Fineman as cruise ship hosts introducing European variety acts performing Styles' songs phonetically in English. "She's a Dancer" had Styles encountering an Irish step dancer played by Fineman ahead of St. Patrick's Day. The episode closed with "Harry for Him," a parody ad showing cast members struggling to pull off Styles' signature fashion looks.
Harry Styles SNL History and One Direction
This was Styles' second time hosting SNL and his sixth overall appearance on the show. He previously performed as a member of One Direction in 2012, 2013, and 2014, appeared as a solo musical guest in 2017, and hosted for the first time in 2019.
SNL Season 51 Cast 2026
The SNL cast for Season 51 includes returning repertory players Chloe Fineman, Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day, Colin Jost, Michael Che, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernandez, Ashley Padilla, and Andrew Dismukes. Five new featured players joined in October 2025: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.
The next new episode of SNL airs April 4, with Jack Black hosting and Jack White serving as musical guest.
