Harry Styles appeared frustrated during an encounter with an autograph hunter in New York City on Wednesday.
The Aperture singer, 32, is frequently seen enjoying discreet walks or going for runs in New York and near his home in London.
But the singer became involved in a tense exchange after an autograph seeker approached him and began following him through the city.
The two appeared to argue while pointing at each other, as the fan carried a stack of records he wanted Harry to sign.
Harry was accompanied by his bodyguard, yet the autograph hunter continued walking beside him for several blocks after the confrontation.
The star appeared keen to avoid attention, stepping out in a grey baseball cap and sunglasses.
Harry Styles appeared frustrated during an encounter with an autograph hunter in New York City on Wednesday
The pair appeared to argue and point at each other while the fan held a stack of records for Harry to sign
Harry’s bodyguard was also seen approaching a police car and explaining the situation, although officers did not intervene.
Representatives for Harry declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail.
The incident follows Harry’s recent account of how an “outgoing” girlfriend helped him feel more comfortable being out in public.
During a conversation with Radiohead star Thom Yorke for Rolling Stone magazine, Thom told Harry: “I was also impressed that you were just walking down the street. I was like, ‘Where’s his security?’
“Because I mean, I know I can do it, but I didn’t know you could do it. Is that a choice?”
Harry explained: “I think in the early days, when I was in the band, so much of the hotel experience felt very locked-in. When I’d be home, it felt like, ‘Oh, it’s not safe for me to be out.’
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“Then I had a girlfriend who was very outgoing, and she was coming to London and I was like, ‘Oh, if we just sit in my house for three days, she’s gonna think I’m nuts.’
“So we walked everywhere, and it was this realisation for me: ‘Oh, it’s fine to be outside.’
“It kind of broke that thing. Now, it’s changed my life in such a big way, because it’s how you stay connected to the world.”
Harry was accompanied by his bodyguard, but the fan continued walking alongside him for several blocks after their confrontation
The star appeared keen to avoid attention as he stepped out wearing a grey baseball cap and sunglasses
The Aperture singer is frequently seen enjoying discreet walks or going for runs in New York and near his home in London
The fan appeared to be holding a stack of records for the singer to sign
Harry could have been alluding to his past relationship with Taylor Swift, who Harry dated around the height of One Direction’s success back in 2012 – at the time she was 22 and he was 18.
He added: ‘I read something about walking being the artist’s kind of perspective, because you’re at ground level and you see things that you just don’t see if you’re driving everywhere.’
As well as walking around his home city, Harry is also frequently spotted out on a run or hopping on a Lime bike.
Last year he stunned fans when he popped up again on the streets of Tokyo, taking part in the city marathon.
Despite being one of the most famous faces in the world, he insisted that being in constant motion meant that fans often didn’t get the chance to recognise him.
He told Runner’s World back in March: ‘Well, the main thing is that you’re always moving. You can turn a corner wherever,’ he said.
‘I think with people who see me, it’s a bit more “Was that…?” rather than, “Oh look it’s him!” And by that time, you’re already gone.