Harry Styles: Partner's gender doesn't matter

Singer Harry Styles of One Direction. Photo / Getty Images

Harry Styles insists the gender of his partners doesn't matter to him.

The One Direction heartthrob was being interviewed along with bandmate Liam Payne when he made the revelation, insisting personality is the most important aspect.

When asked what traits the pair look for in a girlfriend, Liam told On Demand Entertainment: "Female. That's an important trait."

However, the 20-year-old superstar laughed and retorted: "[It's] not that important!"

Instead, the Steal My Girl crooner explained that he thought a "sense of humour" and "being nice to him" were qualities which he deemed to be special.

Harry - who has most recently been romantically linked to 32-year-old comedy writer Erin Foster - has been a supporter of gay rights for several years, but has long been considered a ladies' man due to his numerous flings with high-profile females including Taylor Swift and supermodel Cara Delevingne.

Rumours about the singer's sexuality have circulated since the band first rose to prominence in 2010, although he has previously denied that he is bisexual.

In an interview in 2013, Harry said: "Bisexual? Me? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I'm not."

On Twitter the reaction from One Direction fans has been mostly postive towards Styles' comment:

@Harry_Styles I need more friends who are gender neutral when describing partners, can i recruit you?

— aubs 🌵 (@tpwkaubs) November 4, 2014

Watch the interview with Harry Styles and Liam Payne of One Direction:

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- Bang! Showbiz