Rolling Stone UK Receives Backlash For Calling Harry Styles the ‘King of Pop’

Harry Styles became the first-ever global cover star for Rolling Stone. The pop star is having the biggest year of his life. Styles will star in Olivia Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ alongside Florence Pugh this September. He also had the highest first-week sales this year for an album.

Harry’s House’ by Harry Styles debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 521,500 units (330,000 pure sales). The album was Styles’ third number #1 album. Styles also broke the record for the highest U.S. vinyl sales week in the modern era (182,000 copies).

While Harry Styles is having the year of his life, many are coming for him, and Rolling Stone for a title he doesn’t deserve. Rolling Stone UK’s cover story calling Harry Styles the ‘King of Pop‘ has drawn some criticism.

When people often think of the ‘King of Pop,’ it’s just flat-out Michael Jackson. The man created “Thriller,” which spent 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one, from February 26, 1983, to April 14, 1984 (still the record today). The album eventually has gone 34 times platinum in the U.S. alone, which is the record for a solo artist.

The King of Pop reigns as the highest-selling artist of all time with worldwide sales of over 100 million for the “Thriller” album and 1 billion overall with his discography.

Check out social media reaction to Rolling Stone UK’s new title for Harry Styles:

There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
There is no new King of Pop.
cc: tRollingStone

— andjustice4some – Michael Jackson FAN account (@andjustice4some) August 22, 2022

https://twitter.com/highafbizzle/status/1561701979331743751?s=21&t=HcII9nij4p8_67nfj8aaxA

there is only one king of pop pic.twitter.com/ER70buOGoE

— 𝒮ᰔᩚ (@SM00THCRIMlNAL) August 22, 2022

https://twitter.com/groovydaij/status/1561729615806271489?s=21&t=HcII9nij4p8_67nfj8aaxA

https://twitter.com/thrillerglitter/status/1561720307559215104?s=21&t=HcII9nij4p8_67nfj8aaxA

Out of anybody, they’re calling harry styles the “new” king of pop? pic.twitter.com/6TuN8L2yd9

— mariah ♡ (@voguessangel) August 22, 2022

King of Pop???
Now you can get that title with less than 19 000 000 combined sales?
Your racism is showing again Rolling Stone https://t.co/EoouTajKC0 pic.twitter.com/96lC4ldBx1

— MJ the Musical (@dontstopMJ) August 22, 2022

Umm… is anyone going to tell @RollingStoneUK legal department that “King of Pop” is trademarked and owned by the Michael Jackson estate and that the should see permission before throwing around the title to the undeserving? pic.twitter.com/n7rq5yPwya

— Dr. Andrew Greene (@AndrewGreene864) August 22, 2022

im sorry but i can’t name a single memorable thing that man has ever done to be referred to as the new king of pop.. he could outsell MJ and would still be undeserving of that title, he’s not even the most impactful out of the current pop boys pls be srs 💀

— lu 🇵🇸 (@flatIinesIut) August 22, 2022

There’s no king of pop after Michael. And if there was one it wouldn’t be him. He hasn’t even surpassed The Weeknd or Justin. Like let’s be serious. https://t.co/NVFyAmdphA

— ☈ (@TheMimiReign) August 22, 2022

They've moved onto the next person to call King of Pop. From Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, etc… The title is Michael Jacksons. It remains his. He hasnt bren dethroned. His impact remains. You all love discrediting the fact that a BLACK man is the worlds GOAT https://t.co/9GnvR4BP9i

— RiRi🌸 (@priz_pri) August 22, 2022

This title belongs to the black man who worked his ass off since the age of 5, who was a veteran by the age of 15, broke racial barriers and revolutionized the music industry. Michael Jackson is THEE King of Pop of EVERY generation. https://t.co/3jxtYWCHOa

— 𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪💫 | MJ fan (@iamveronica777) August 22, 2022

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