Grammy-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo is speaking out after facing online backlash over a babydoll dress she wore during a recent performance, calling the criticism disturbing and reflective of what she described as “normalized pedophilia in our culture.”
Rodrigo addressed the controversy during an interview preview released by The New York Times ahead of a full podcast episode discussing fashion, online discourse, and public scrutiny.
The singer faced criticism after performing her unreleased single “Drop Dead” during Spotify’s Billions Club Live concert series at Teatre Grec in Barcelona earlier this month. Rodrigo appeared on stage wearing a small pink floral babydoll dress with puffed sleeves, which sparked intense reactions online.
Speaking candidly in the interview, Rodrigo said she found the backlash upsetting, particularly because the outfit itself was not revealing.
“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.”
The artist criticized societal attitudes that place responsibility on young women for how others interpret their appearance, saying girls are often taught from an early age to alter their clothing choices out of fear of being sexualized.
Rodrigo explained that she felt “cool and comfortable” in the outfit and had no intention of appearing provocative. She cited feminist punk icon Kathleen Hanna and rock singer Courtney Love as major fashion inspirations, noting that both artists embraced similar aesthetics throughout their careers.
“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,” Rodrigo said, adding that she feels strongly protective of younger girls and women navigating similar public scrutiny.
The conversation comes as Rodrigo continues building momentum ahead of her upcoming album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, which is scheduled for release on June 12.
The singer first teased her new track “Drop Dead” during Addison Rae’s Coachella performance before later performing it at an open mic event at Pete’s Candy Store in New York City.
Rodrigo remains one of Spotify’s biggest global stars, with nine of her songs surpassing one billion streams on the platform.
