“It Was Truly Surreal”: Olivia Rodrigo Compares Meeting Harry Styles To Living Out Her Fanfic

Before Olivia Rodrigo was breaking streaming records and performing in packed venues, she was just like any other fangirl. The Grammy-winning singer’s passion was writing fan fiction about One Direction, one of the most successful boy bands of the 2010s. While almost every Directioner fantasized about chatting with their favorite band member, Rodrigo turned that fantasy into reality through years of hard work.

In a podcast appearance last year, the singer confessed that meeting Harry Styles in real life left her absolutely blown away. It felt less like a routine industry encounter and more like a “surreal” scene straight from the fanfiction she used to write.

Inside Olivia Rodrigo’s Idol-Inspired Fan Fiction Era

In a 2025 appearance on the Music Makes Us podcast, Olivia Rodrigo revealed that she used to write fan fiction about One Direction passionately as a child. She was like millions of other fans who grew up with One Direction ruling pop music.

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The band comprised five members: Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne. Rodrigo spent her free time creating fictional scenarios that included interactions with her favorite idols.

Back then, the ‘Good 4 U’ singer never imagined her dreams coming true. While her music career eventually placed her among the very artists she grew up admiring, Rodrigo revealed that she still holds a special fondness for some of her former idols.

Rodrigo’s Journey Mirrors Every Fan’s Dream

A few years after becoming one of the world’s biggest pop sensations of her generation, Rodrigo experienced a full-circle moment that most fans could only dream of. She finally met Harry Styles, who treated her as if he had known her all her life.

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After talking to the young artist in person and going out for tea, the ‘Fine Line’ singer left Rodrigo with a feeling she would struggle to process for a long time. “I was writing One Direction fanfics when I was in elementary school. And many years later, I went out with Harry Styles,” she revealed.

“We had tea and walked around together. When I got home, I was like, ‘What the f— just happened?’” Rodrigo continued. “It felt like I had written that in a fanfic…and then lived it for real. And he’s really kind. I don’t want to say too much because I know he’s a very private person, but it was truly surreal.”

Overall, Rodrigo’s story highlights the strange ways fame can blur the line between fantasy and reality. While most fans rarely get the opportunity to have a personal conversation with their favorite stars, she found herself spending time with one of hers.

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