Ed Balls and Richard Arnold Recreate Harry Styles' SNL Kiss on Live Television
In a bizarre and unexpected television moment, Good Morning Britain presenters Ed Balls and Richard Arnold recreated Harry Styles' viral Saturday Night Live kiss during Monday's broadcast. The incident occurred after the pair discussed Styles' recent monologue on the American sketch show, where the singer addressed accusations of "queerbaiting" by planting a kiss on cast member Ben Marshall.
The Inspiration Behind the On-Air Smooch
The chain of events began when Harry Styles hosted Saturday Night Live on 14 March 2026, promoting his new album "Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally." During his opening monologue, Styles directly confronted claims that he "queerbaits" his fans - a term describing celebrities who hint at LGBTQ+ identity without confirmation. "Back then, people seemed to pay a lot of attention to the clothes I was wearing, something called queerbaiting," Styles remarked about his previous SNL appearances.
The singer then dramatically kissed cast member Ben Marshall before declaring to the audience: "Now that's queerbaiting!" This moment quickly went viral across social media platforms and became a major talking point in entertainment circles.
The GMB Recreation That Left Susanna Reid Stunned
During Monday's Good Morning Britain discussion about Styles' SNL appearance, presenter Ed Balls was seen leaning forward and pretending to brush his teeth. Co-host Susanna Reid immediately questioned his actions, asking: "You were just leaning forward, Ed. What are you doing?"
Despite Reid's horrified reaction, entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold turned to Balls and suggested: "I thought you were going in for one. Shall we give them what they want?" The pair then proceeded to share what was described as an "unnecessarily loud peck" on the lips, leaving Reid staring at them in complete disbelief.
Following the awkward kiss, Balls quipped: "Lip-smackingly good. That is what's known as Susanna Reid baiting." Arnold added: "Exactly. I'll leave you with a class act in the meantime."
Ed Balls' History of Cringeworthy Television Moments
This is not the first time Ed Balls has created awkward television moments. The former Labour politician famously recreated Psy's viral "Gangnam Style" dance during his 2016 appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. More recently in 2024, Balls accidentally kicked the back of Susanna Reid's head during a segment discussing airplane seating arrangements.
Reflecting on the head-kicking incident two years later, Reid admitted to The Telegraph that she "was cross" with Balls at the time. "Honestly, no lasting damage," she stated, though she noted that "my eyesight did go blurry for about 20 minutes" following the accidental impact.
Harry Styles' Controversial SNL Monologue
Beyond the viral kiss, Harry Styles' Saturday Night Live appearance featured several notable moments. The singer served as both host and musical guest for the episode, using his monologue to poke fun at himself and others. Styles remarked about being "tremendously boring," stating: "As a British man who spent a lot of his life in the public eye, I can assure you, there's something nice about being boring. It's better than the alternative."
During this commentary, an image of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appeared onscreen, showing the royal figure in the back of a police car following his arrest the previous month. This visual juxtaposition added another layer of controversy to Styles' already provocative performance.
The Good Morning Britain kiss recreation demonstrates how viral moments from American television can quickly influence British broadcasting, creating unexpected and sometimes awkward cross-cultural exchanges between entertainment platforms.
