Overview
- Rodrigo pushed back in a New York Times Popcast clip released Wednesday, saying critics who called her babydoll dress infantilizing were exposing how culture normalizes harmful sexualization.
- The criticism followed Rodrigo wearing a floral babydoll dress in the “Drop Dead” video and at a Spotify Billions Club Live concert in Barcelona, which online commenters described as childlike or inappropriate.
- Rodrigo said the look was an intentional homage to 1990s female rock figures such as Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love and that she did not view the outfit as sexualizing.
- She pointed to a double standard by noting she previously performed in revealing stage outfits without similar backlash and said the controversy upends how young women are taught to manage male responses to their dress.
- The exchange comes as Rodrigo promotes her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, due June 12, and may shape public discussion about artistic intent, gendered judgment, and how culture talks about consent and safety.