Chappell Roan knows she made a bold statement at the 2026 Grammys—and that’s all that matters to her. However, that didn’t stop social media users from having varied opinions about the jaw-dropping topless look of the “Subway” singer on the red carpet of music’s biggest night. After all, Chappell turned heads when she removed the cape of her sheer red Mugler dress to reveal that the bodice fabric was connected to two nipple rings affixed to her breasts, leaving her chest and back fully exposed.
Amidst the praise and criticism of her viral look, the 27-year-old shared her reaction to the uproar on Instagram on Feb. 2nd. “Giggling because I don’t even think this is THAT outrageous of an outfit,” she wrote. “The look’s actually so awesome and weird. I recommend just exercising your free will; it’s really fun and silly.” Chappell, who was up for Record of the Year and Pop Solo Performance at the event, concluded, “Thank you for having me @grammys and those who voted for me!!”
But Chappell’s dress wasn’t the only reason she was top of mind on the red carpet. In fact, fellow nominee Sabrina Carpenter quipped that the event’s photographers were more tame than they had been in the past. “You guys are so quiet this year,” she told them as they snapped photos. “Chappell really started a movement.” The 26-year-old added with a smirk, “She really whipped them into shape.”
Indeed, while attending Olivia Rodrigo’s concert film premiere in October 2024, Chappell recognized one of the photographers and confronted them for allegedly being rude to her at a Grammys after-party earlier in the year. “You were so disrespectful to me at the Grammys,” she told the person, as seen in multiple videos online. “You yelled at me at the Grammy party. Yes, I remember. You were so rude to me. And I deserve an apology for that. You need to apologize to me.”
The Best New Artist winner had also clapped back at another photographer the month before after he reportedly shouted, “Shut the f--k up!” “You shut the f--k up!” Chappell yelled at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. “No. Not me, b---h.” Later that evening, she explained why she had such a strong reaction to the heated moment.
“This is quite overwhelming and quite scary,” Chappell told Entertainment Tonight at the September 2024 event. “For someone who gets a lot of anxiety around people yelling at you, the carpet is horrifying and I yelled back. You don’t get to yell at me like that.”
