On a night already charged with political speeches and pointed statements, Chappell Roan turned her body into one more arena of debate. Her sheer maroon Mugler gown, suspended by metal rings and steeped in fashion history, instantly divided viewers. To some, it was a calculated plea for attention, proof that celebrity culture has abandoned subtlety. To others, it was fearless performance art, a knowing nod to Mugler’s legacy and the long tradition of women using style to reclaim the gaze turned on them.

The outrage said as much about the audience as it did about Roan. Critics invoked “modesty,” “class,” and “desperation,” revealing deep anxieties about female autonomy, sexuality, and what women must do to stay visible. Supporters saw a pop star who understands that in an era of endless scrolling, impact is its own language. Whether loved or loathed, the dress did what awards-show fashion is ultimately designed to do: make it impossible to look away, or to stop arguing about what it means.