Olivia Rodrigo has become the latest Hollywood figure to face accusations of 'sexualizing infancy' after performing in a lavender babydoll dress and matching bloomers at a Spotify concert in Barcelona over the weekend. The 23-year-old former Disney star's suggestive movements on stage, captured in a video that has amassed over 23 million views on X (formerly Twitter), drew sharp criticism from many social media users.
Backlash on Social Media
Critics were quick to express their dismay. One user commented, 'Why and I cannot stress this enough, [why] is she dressing like a toddler and touching herself in a sexual manner? Who the hell stans this kind of abhorrent behaviour? Dress like an adult and do it, fine, but a child? Hard f***ing pass!' Another added, 'For real though, that babydoll s**t on a grown woman is straight ick. Looks like she's cosplaying as a kid and it's weird as f**k.' A third user wrote, 'We need to stop this infantilism in the media industry. The Cassie act in Euphoria should've been the last straw.'
Defenders Speak Out
However, many fans rallied to Rodrigo's defense. One argued, 'It's actually tired that a woman can't even dress like she likes because people instantly thinks she's sexualizing herself. The issue isn't Olivia; it's your mindset. YOU are the problem. If you're a pervert, that's your problem alone.' Another fan stated, 'The pearl-clutchers melting down over Olivia in a cute floral babydoll dress are the same ones sexualizing everything a young woman wears. It's literally just a dress, not 'toddler cosplay'. Your dirty minds are the problem, not her outfit.'
Media and Historical Context
Rolling Stone published a lengthy article defending Rodrigo, suggesting a 'bot-coordinated attack' aimed at manufacturing outrage. Some fans also noted that her outfit was a tribute to Courtney Love, who famously wore babydoll dresses while performing with Hole in the 1990s. One Reddit user commented, 'Wasn't this the style by female fronted bands in the 90s? I believe Courtney Love dressed like this and to my knowledge it wasn't a problem.'
Euphoria Controversy Resurfaces
The Rodrigo incident follows closely on the heels of a controversy involving Sydney Sweeney's character Cassie Jacobs on the HBO series Euphoria. In a disturbing scene, Sweeney performed a sexualized adult baby cosplay on OnlyFans, wearing a sheer pink top and white panties resembling child's underwear, with pigtails and a pacifier. The scene drew ire from conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, who on her SiriusXM podcast accused the show of 'sexualizing infancy' and branded creator Sam Levinson as 'sick.' Kelly argued that such scenes represent 'Hollywood not understanding at all where the line is.'
Historical Patterns in Entertainment
The trend of female pop stars and actresses infantilizing themselves is not new. In 1999, a 17-year-old Britney Spears posed provocatively for Rolling Stone with a pink child's bicycle and a Teletubbies plushie. In 2013, Ariana Grande changed the cover of her album Yours Truly after backlash for its 'Lolita' style. More recently, Sabrina Carpenter has faced criticism for tour outfits combining babydoll dresses with thigh-high stockings and lingerie.
