Pop artist Chappell Roan has responded with amusement to the polarized reactions generated by her daring ensemble at Sunday’s Grammy Awards ceremony. The singer made a dramatic statement on the red carpet by removing a red chiffon cape to reveal an unconventional Mugler-designed dress suspended from nipple rings, leaving her upper torso largely exposed.
The controversial outfit quickly became one of the most discussed fashion moments of the event. On her Instagram platform, Roan expressed lighthearted bemusement at the attention, commenting, ‘Giggling because I don’t even think this is THAT outrageous of an outfit. The look’s actually so awesome and weird. I recommend just exercising your free will it’s really fun and silly.’
Reactions among fans and observers diverged sharply. Supporters celebrated her bold style, hailing her as ‘a goddess’ and ‘an icon.’ One commentator drew parallels to Justin Bieber’s performance in underwear, noting the double standard: ‘If Justin can perform in his underwear without anyone batting an eyelid, you can rock pierced pasties diva. Misogyny.’
Conversely, some viewers expressed discomfort with the revealing nature of the outfit. Responses to Billboard’s coverage included comments such as ‘I love her but this is too much’ and ‘I don’t know what people have against wearing clothes.’
Fashion expert Alex Fullerton provided contextual analysis, noting that Roan’s choice honored Mugler’s design legacy: ‘What this label has done consistently since the 80s has worked a lot with transparency, bare breasts, so she’s honoring the legacy of the designer.’
The appearance continues an emerging trend of celebrities opting for transparent and revealing outfits at major awards ceremonies. Previous instances include Charli XCX’s sheer black dress at last year’s Brit Awards and Bianca Censori’s body stocking at the previous Grammys.
Despite receiving nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her song ‘The Subway,’ Roan did not secure awards during the ceremony. The artist, whose real name is Kayleigh Amstutz, has previously described her stage persona Chappell Roan as a ‘larger-than-life, drag queen version of myself’ that enables her to express rebellion and risqué artistry.