Olivia Rodrigo reacts to dress criticism, calls out ‘normalized pedophilia in our culture’

Grammy-winning artist Olivia Rodrigo is speaking out against backlash over a babydoll dress she wore while debuting her single “Drop Dead.”

During a concert at Teatre Grec in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this month for Spotify’s Billions Club Live series, the singer-songwriter performed in a small pink floral dress with puffed sleeves.

In a preview podcast clip with The New York Times that was published on Wednesday, May 27 a day prior to the full episode release, Rodrigo opened up about how the online criticism surrounding the outfit affected her. “That’s been making me so upset,” Rodrigo said when asked about the backlash. “Not even for me. People can say whatever they want.”

Rodrigo described the response as disturbing, noting that she has worn far more revealing outfits without controversy. The babydoll dress, which she emphasized was not revealing, drew intense criticism precisely because it was considered “childlike,” she said.

“Being fully covered up in a dress that people deemed ‘childlike’ was considered inappropriate,” Rodrigo said. “I think it just shows how we really normalize pedophilia in our culture and also this rhetoric that we’re fed as girls since we we’re so little that ‘Don’t wear that, because a man will sexualize your body, and it’s your fault.’ It’s so weird.”

Rodrigo said she felt “cool and comfortable” in the dress and had no intention of looking “sexy,” citing punk icon Kathleen Hanna and rock artist Courtney Love as style inspirations and noting that both have embraced similar aesthetics.

“All these people are my heroes, and I felt cool and comfortable in it,” Rodrigo said. “If we start dressing in a way that’s driven by fear of how someone else might interpret it, I think we’re losing the plot. I’m very protective of younger women and girls, and I don’t ever want them to be fed that rhetoric.”

The New York Times podcast episode, released Thursday, explores Rodrigo’s fashion choices and the broader conversation around online discourse.

Rodrigo first teased “Drop Dead” in April during Addison Rae’s Coachella set, then performed it at an open mic night at Pete’s Candy Store in New York City.

Nine of her tracks have surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. Her upcoming album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” is set for release on June 12.

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