Charli XCX is clapping back at criticism of the sheer, nipple-baring dress she wore to the 2025 Brit Awards.
“I’ve heard that [British broadcaster] ITV were complaining about my nipples,” Charli, 32, began her Artist of the Year acceptance speech on Saturday, March 1. “I feel like we’re in the era of free the nipple, though, right?”
She added, “They put the clap track on, cool. Thanks for being on my side.” (ITV, which broadcasted the awards ceremony, has not publicly addressed Charli’s criticism. Us Weekly has reached out for comment.)
Charli wore a black, sheer Dilara Findikoglu gown to the Brit Awards, alongside a matching veil and Hearts on Fire jewelry. After walking the red carpet with fiancé George Daniel, Charli went home with an armful of hardware.
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The Brat singer walked away with trophies for Song of the Year, Dance Act, Album of the Year and Artist of the Year. Charli also won the honorary Songwriter of the Year prize, while Brat executive producer A.G. Cook took home Producer of the Year.
“I’ve always been an artist. It really takes a whole team — and they’re all sat at that table,” Charli gushed in her Artist of the Year speech. “I just want to say thank you so much to the people who helped me make this record.”
She concluded, “George Daniel, love you, baby.”
Charli also gave flowers to “all the artists out there, who feel like [they] don’t fit in but are brave enough to try and be rejected a million times.”
“I share this with you,” she said. “Thank you so much. Keep partying.”
Later on Saturday, Charli accepted the prize for Album of the Year.
“I used to tell myself that things like this weren’t important, this kind of recognition and awards in general weren’t important,” the British singer said in her follow-up speech. “That was really easy for me to do because, until last year, I was literally never nominated for anything. Now, it’s cool to not be in that position.”
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Charli continued, “In particular, I’ve always felt like an outsider in the industry, but particularly in the British music industry, and it feels really nice to be recognized on this album when I actually haven’t really made any sacrifices. I’ve been doing my own thing in my own corner of the industry for a minute. I’ve never really changed [and] I’ve worked with the same incredible people.”
According to the pop star, she wanted to share the honor with “all the artists who have ever felt that they need to compromise to be recognized.”
“I think I’m living proof that maybe it takes a long time, but you don’t need to compromise. You don’t need to compromise your vision,” Charli stressed. “It’s kind of the long road, but if you do your own thing and you do it well, eventually, if you believe in yourself enough [and] if you make good enough music, people will resonate with you and be right there with you.”
