Harry Styles breaks silence on allegations he spat on Chris Pine at Venice Film Festival

Harry Styles has spoken for the first time about the alleged spitting incident at the Venice Film Festival.

Fans of the former One Direction star, 28, were convinced he spat at Don't Worry Darling co-star Chris Pine as he sat down at the event. But, following strenuous denial from Chris' team, Harry has now made a joke about the incident as he returned to his Madison Square Garden gigs.

The singer was entertaining the crowds once again at his residency when he decided to bring up the incident. He joked: "It's wonderful to be back in New York. I just popped very quickly to Venice to spit on Chris Pine."

His comment was met with screams of adulation from his adoring crowd before he added with a smile: "But we're back!"

And fans on social media were loving his response, with one Twitter user writer: "He's so funny i love him."

Another agreed and added: "The kid is hilarious #SpitGate," while a third responded: "The only way to address #SpitGate. bravo Harry."

The Watermelon Sugar singer caused a huge frenzy on Monday when footage seemed to show him spit on the actor.

Footage shared by a number of fans showed a dapper-looking Harry in a blue suit and light blue shirt with a huge collar make his way to his assigned seat while the audience applauses. As he does so, Chris, 42, wearing a light brown suit jacket, beige trousers and a bow tie, claps his co-star before suddenly stopping after Harry prepares to take his seat.

The alleged incident took place at the Venice Film Festival (Getty Images)

Some fans believe his look of disbelief, which was followed by a stunned laughter, was because the singer-turned-actor has spat in his direction.

But the allegations were quickly shot down by Chris' representative who hit out at the rumour mill. The furious statement read: "This is a ridiculous story — a complete fabrication and the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation.

"Just to be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist."