Olivia Rodrigo addressed criticism for wearing babydoll dresses, sharing her frustration with online rhetoric In the New York Times‘ popcast podcast where she said the controversy “really shows how we normalize child sexual abuse in our culture.”
The Grammy winner wore the exact dress style in the music video for her new song “Drop Dead” and in recent live performances. The fashion choice sparked controversy online, with some criticizing the look.
“It was making me feel very uncomfortable. Not even for me. People can say whatever they want,” Rodrigo said of talking about her babydoll dresses. “What’s really upsetting is that I feel like I actually wore clothes that were probably revealing on stage. I was on stage in a shiny bra and shorts, and that’s my right, and that’s fun, and I felt great and comfortable in that. “It wasn’t inappropriate, but I was completely covered up in a dress that people considered childish, it was inappropriate.”
Rodrigo continued: “I think this really shows how we normalize child sexual abuse in our culture. And also this rhetoric that we’re fed as girls since we were very young, which is, ‘Don’t wear that because then a man will sexualize your body and it’s your fault. It’s very weird.'”
The “Deja Vu” singer explained that she wasn’t trying to look “sexy,” but instead “felt gorgeous and comfortable” in the dresses. She added that she felt the style mimicked that of Kathleen Hanna or Courtney Love, two artists Rodrigo looks up to.
“I didn’t think I looked sexy in it at all. I was like, ‘This is so cool.’ I feel like I look like Kathleen Hanna or Courtney Love, all these people who are my heroes, and I felt amazing and comfortable in it.” “I just think that if we start dressing in a way that’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t want some nerd to think I’m hot like a kid,’ or anything crazy like that, I think that loses the plot a little bit. I’m just protecting women and younger girls, and I don’t want them to be fed that rhetoric.”
Rodrigo is preparing to release her third album You look very sad for a girl in love.
