Olivia Rodrigo Slams ‘Disturbed’ Backlash Over Her Babydoll Dresses

The internet has gone wild over an outfit choice, but Olivia Rodrigo isn’t backing down from the controversy. It all began when the 23-year-old wore a structured babydoll dress for her new music video ‘Drop Dead’ and her recent performance on Spotify’s Billions Club Live concert.

Critics immediately flooded social media platforms with claims that the hyper-feminine look was both childlike and s–ualizing Rodrigo’s image at once. But the pop star is fighting back against the criticism, turning it into a full-blown debate about gender roles and freedom. Let’s dive in!

Olivia Rodrigo Shreds The Argument And Rejects The Narrative

“That’s been making me so upset,” Rodrigo confessed in a preview clip for ‘Popcast‘ by The New York Times when asked about the outfit. “Not even for me. People can say whatever they want. What really is upsetting is [that] I’ve worn clothes that were probably more revealing on stage before.”

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“I’ve done performances in a sparkly bra with little shorts, which is fine; I felt cool and comfortable in it,” she added. “But it wasn’t anything inappropriate, while being fully covered up with a dress that is apparently childlike was inappropriate.” For Rodrigo, the strong reaction to her clothes is a sign of something more sinister in modern media culture.

“That’s what makes me so mad because there’s definitely a way that we normalize p—philia in our culture. There’s just this whole rhetoric that I think we get fed by the time we are so little, ‘Don’t wear that because men will s–ualize you, and it’s your fault,’ which is insane,” Rodrigo explained.

By bringing the conversation back to society, the artist rejects any responsibility for the projection. In her eyes, there’s absolutely nothing s–ualizing in a high-waisted dress with extra flares. But the fixation on criticizing how young women dress is outrageous.

The Inspiration Behind Rodrigo’s Outfits

The ‘Drivers License’ singer made it clear that her objective was to look cool by sporting the babydoll dress. Turns out, the inspiration behind her look was the ’90s pop artists such as Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love, and she even described them as her “heroes.”

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“I just think if we start dressing in a way that’s like, ‘I don’t want some f—— creep to think I’m sexy like a baby’ or some crazy thing like that, I think it’s a little ridiculous,” she explained. “I’m just protective of younger women, girls, and I don’t want anyone to ever feed that rhetoric to them.”

Meanwhile, the heated fashion discussion on the heels of Rodrigo’s preparation for her highly anticipated third studio album, ‘You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.’ Scheduled to release on June 12, the upcoming project will feature thirteen tracks. Fans have already gotten their first taste of the new music with two singles released ahead of the album. These included ‘Drop Dead’ and its follow-up, ‘The Cure.’

Moreover, the latest album will showcase two contrasting sides: a happier “girl so in love” and a darker, moodier “you seem pretty sad.” With her new music, Rodrigo continues the legacy of riot grrrl icons, channeling their spirit to create something subversively cool and subzero. What do you think of her stance?

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