Olivia Rodrigo Defends Babydoll Dresses, Calls Out ‘Weird’ Rhetoric Fed to Young Girls

Olivia Rodrigo is firing back. The 23-year-old singer addressed criticism of her stage attire during a New York Times Popcast interview.

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“That’s been making me so upset,” Rodrigo said. “Not even for me. People can say whatever they want.”

She noted that she has worn revealing outfits on stage before, including “a sparkly bra and little shorts.” No one called those inappropriate. However, critics targeted her babydoll-style dresses, which cover more skin.

“Me fully covered up in a dress that people deemed to be childlike was inappropriate?” she asked.

Rodrigo then connected the criticism to a larger societal issue. “I just think it really shows how we really normalize p*dophilia in our culture,” she said.

She also pushed back against the rhetoric fed to young girls. “Don’t wear that because then a man is going to sexualize your body and it’s your fault,” she summarized. “It’s so weird.”

Rodrigo explained that she wears babydoll dresses because she feels “cool and comfortable.” She draws inspiration from her grunge heroes, including Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and Courtney Love of Hole.

“I’m very protective of younger women and girls,” she said. “I don’t ever want them to be fed that rhetoric.”

Her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, drops on June 12.

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[Photo Credit: Olivia Rodrigo]