Harry Styles Explained Why He's Kept His Sex Life And Sexuality Private, And Why His One Direction Days Made Him Feel "Ashamed"

In case you missed it, Harry Styles has a new album, Harry's House, out May 20. Here's the first single, "As It Was":

In a new interview with Better Homes and Gardens, Harry talked about why he doesn't put a label on his sexuality — and how it felt to maintain a private life as a member of One Direction.

In the interview, Harry discussed the "cleanliness clauses" in his contract as a member of One Direction — meaning that if he stepped out of line in the label's eyes, his career would effectively be over.

“For a long time, it felt like the only thing that was mine was my sex life," he said. “I felt so ashamed about it, ashamed at the idea of people even knowing that I was having sex, let alone who with.”

"But I think I got to a place where I was like, why do I feel ashamed? I’m a 26-year-old man who’s single; it’s like, yes, I have sex.”

The stress of maintaining a private life was intense enough that, when he found out his current contract with Columbia didn't feature any "cleanliness clauses," he burst into tears. "I felt free," he said.

Harry also spoke on why he doesn't like putting labels on his sexuality while discussing it in public.

"I’ve been really open with it with my friends, but that’s my personal experience; it’s mine," he said, while referring to the concept of labeling one's sexuality as "outdated."

“The whole point of where we should be heading, which is toward accepting everybody and being more open, is that it doesn’t matter, and it’s about not having to label everything, not having to clarify what boxes you’re checking.”

Read the entire interview here.