Harry Styles marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by paying tribute to New York City's resilience during a concert at Madison Square Garden.
"I want us to take a moment to think about the incredible resilience of this city," Styles, 32, told the audience Friday night, according to video shared on X. "I want us to take a second to think about the events that not only shaped this city but [also] shaped the century that we live in."
He also remembered those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, including New Yorkers and first responders, as well as those who perished in the aftermath worldwide. Styles recalled the profound impact of the events, noting that his world changed when he was 7 years old.
"I remember walking home from school and my world becoming completely different," he said. "There aren’t really words to describe something like that, but there’s a song that I’ve always loved by a legendary New Yorker, Bill Evans, called ‘Peace Piece.’ It’s always been an incredibly important song for me. It’s brought me a lot of peace, and I listen to it in moments of reflection."
Styles then invited the audience to close their eyes while his bandmate, Yaffra, performed the song on the piano. The moment occurred during the eighth night of Styles' 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden.
The performance comes after Styles faced criticism earlier in the week over artwork on physical tickets for his show. The image depicted a yellow car flying over the Empire State Building, which some social media users found insensitive given its proximity to the 25th anniversary of the attacks.