The 2025 ESPYs red carpet was basically a fashion roller coaster.
As athletes and celebrities gathered at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, there was plenty of game-winning energy on the red carpet on Wednesday, July 16. But some outfit choices had netizens scratching their heads.
From Simone Biles’ sparkling blue outfit to Chari Hawkins wearing sneakers with her voluminous gown, here’s a roundup of the outfits that had the internet buzzing.
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Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens
With her husband and NFL star Jonathan Owens beside her, Simone Biles had a great night at the 2025 ESPYs.
The 11-time Olympic medalist won two trophies at the award show, including Best Championship Performance for her performance at the 2024 Olympics, during which she won three gold medals and one silver.
But fans weren’t too sure if she and Jonathan scored points for their appearance.
Simone was dressed in a custom-designed blue sequin gown by Zac Posen, made in partnership with Athleta.
The design came out “exactly how I envisioned it,” the gymnast said in a BTS video ahead of the show.
“I would not describe this look as stunning,” one social media user said about her outfit.
“Simone Biles needs to get a refund,” another said, while yet another wrote, “dress does not fit.”
There was also rampant speculation about the gymnastic champion going under the knife to alter her appearance.
“Definitely some obvious plastic surgery,” one commenter said, while another wrote, “What happened to her face? Was she injured?”
“She needs to fire her plastic surgeon,” one netizen claimed.
Some wondered where Jonathan got his shirt from.
“It looks like he's wearing a woman's blouse,” read one comment.
“Whyyy is he wearing that shirt?!?!?” another asked.
If her bóobs weren't squished in this uncomfortable and bad looking way, it'd be a perfect outfit, the dress itself is gorgeous. And I love his clothes, he looks cool, and I like that he's willing to take chances instead of dressing boring like 90% of men on red carpets.
Breast should look round, not like tomatoes about to be cut by a very dull knife
If her b***s weren't pressed against her body like that, she would look gorgeous. Her partner looks fine.
Not you making ASSumptions! Do better that’s just pathetic
Load More Replies...I love the material on her dress but the breast thing just doesn't do any favors for her. She's stunning without that emphasis. Its kind of in your face, all you can see. Nope on the guy's outfit, I hate it. to each their own.
JEEZUSS FRAKKING KREIST, can people please leave Simone Biles the hèll alone? This woman is one of the greatest athletes to ever walk this planet. Yet, "somehow, someway," everyone manages to find a reason to bag on her. Golly terwilikers, I wonder what that "reason" could be?? 🙄
His jacket reminds of the one Fin wore that his sister left behind in the movie Great Expectations
His jacket is like the movie, the one where Fin wears his sister's jacket to a formal social event. Do stellar gymnasts grow b***s when they age out?
Jordan Chiles
Jordan Chiles posed on the red carpet in a beige minidress from Cong Tri’s spring 2025 collection, with tan heels and Sterling Forever jewelry.
“I love how the texture of it is like basket material,” the gymnast told Extra TV about the dress on the red carpet.
“It’s very special. It resembles a lot … [It’s] me being me,” she added. “I love it.”
Fans didn’t share the same enthusiasm and said, “Idk if it’s her features or the artist but her makeup is always a miss.”
“Immediately no,” one bluntly said.
“She deserves better,” said another. “I want [her] Stylist or Glam team to be STOPPED.”
“Who keeps doing this to this gorgeous young lady,” one asked.
“It’s a head to to NO,” said another. “Why would that put that silhouette in her and she’s already broad shouldered with a stocky build?”
C'mon, it's phŭkking CUTE and she wears it well. (It does look pink in this pic, though, which probably comes off better than it would in beige.)
Whitney Cummings
I know I’ve said this countless times- I always think how these ladies go to bathroom. She is in gloves, attached sleeve, attached to dress — how does that work when nature calls and she requires bathroom tissue?
Ilona Maher
“Nope, Nope, Nope!!!” the internet said after Ilona Maher put on a daring display of skin in a black gown.
The Olympic bronze medalist and Team USA rugby star won the Best Breakthrough Athlete award at the show.
“This was a last-minute,” Ilona told Extra TV on the red carpet. “...I went with this because I wanted to show my muscles.”
But fans asked, “Who did this to her?”
“I’m a fan of hers, but you’d think at least one of her friends would have told her that dress is not the one,” one said.
Another wrote, “Love her but there has to be a more flattering dress for her.”
“I love her, but it’s giving weird gladiator in a [loin] cloth,” said another.
Look at her beautiful face and her wonderful shoulders and arms, and then....the "dress" makes the rest of her look like a tree trunk.
She looks incredible!! Heck yeah she looks like a gladiator and it is fabulous!
She's built like a Greek sculpture so why not go with that kind of theme? This skimpy thing leaves her body looking so top-heavy that it minimizes her best features!
it must be hard for her to look traditionally feminine. She's a cool beautiful person, no offense meant
Katie Austin
“Glad you wore panties,” a social media user said after Katie Austin hit the red carpet.
With her undies on display and her confidence dialed to 100, the fitness influencer wore a teeny-tiny glitter bra with a sparkly sheer skirt.
She seemed like she was on her way to a Coachella after-party.
Raided a fishing boat for its net , some fishermen person gonna be pissed off lol
A "dress" like this only works on a "petite pørņstâr" type body. She looks like an eel in drag.
Because she's an InfLUenCeR LOOKATMELOOKATMELOOKATME!!!
Load More Replies...Daria Berenato
Daria Berenato rolled up in a kind of brave but mostly bizarre outfit to the annual awards show.
There was a crop top. There were leather pants. And then there were straps that began at her chest and dangled all the way to her legs.
There was also an out-of-place metal ring that added to the confusing vibe.
I love this outfit so much, but it doesn't really fit this kind of event
It's the leather gauchos that are messing it all up. The whole look could have been saved by sleek leather leggings tucked into a busier boot.
Alex Morgan
The skirt is slipping downward from her waist. It's gonna end up at her ankles in a couple of hours.
Load More Replies...Close up the top and close the seam on the slit on the skirt about 6"
Agreed. I'm not against splits and higher slits, but the whole thing just looks...unfinished and unshapely. The top could have been fab if it had been shaped right and had a more flattering neck? chest? line
Load More Replies...Robin Arzón
Before hitting the red carpet, Robin had a 4 a.m. workout and ate a tofu wrap that she took with her to Los Angeles from New York.
The inspiration for her outfit may have been a disco ball, as she showed up in a strapless metallic silver gown with a plunging neckline.
What is it the "imminent wardrobe malfunction " look that seems to trending lately
Yes, make the top higher and less of a slit so it looks like she can move without falling out. Top half needs to be fitted to be flattering, also. I think the fringe should be longer at the thigh to follow the diagonal line down to her knee. It's all about the fit, the line, and the flatter. Not about b***s and coochie presentation
Load More Replies...Just because I may want to see you does not mean I want to see you 90% n**e.
Flau'jae Johnson
running late n grabbed the tablecloth tied it n didn’t bother to look in a mirror I see !!
No dress available? Just wrap yourself in a few yards of non-biodegradable packing material!
Chiney Ogwumike
Kendra Andrews
...and the skirt is creeping down, down, down to the floor.
Load More Replies...She's standing on her skirt. Bad fit ruined what might otherwise have been interesting at least.
Chari Hawkins
Ahead of the award show, Chari Hawkins dressed up in several looks and asked her fans to vote for the best outfit.
The winner appeared to be a fluffy, voluminous ball gown designed by Ines Di Santo.
The champion athlete brought some track-day energy by wearing chunky white sneakers that were hidden under the long skirt.
Okay this dress would be a lovely wedding dress, I don't know anything about this event or if it fits the occasion, but the dress itself is lovely.
It feels like "way too much" for an awards show...but c'mon, how often do you get a chance to wear an actual BALL GOWN? (The sneakers thing is chìckenshít tho.)
The top starts out very nice, but then it looks like she got caught in a fight in a chicken coop on the way to her wedding. Just. No. But the good news is the skirt was long enough that you didn't see her stupid "chunky white sneakers." Seriously? What kind of fashion sense must you be lacking to put on that dress then look in your closet and pick your tennie runners?
Fat Nwigwe and Tobe Nwigwe
Oh man, what to say! He's just magnificent. I love her hair, her shoes, her bag, her jewelry, the fabric, the sassy cute sunglasses, the fit of the top and sleeves.... But too too many ruffles! Maybe if she had one less set of ruffles, or even only the top and a plain ruffled skirt.... If nothing else though, gotta respect the look on her face. She be queen and will d**n well wear whatever she wants!
I mean, they look summery and cool. I don't really get the vibe, though.
Freddie Freeman And Chelsea Freeman
Agreed. Could have looked good, but the wrinkles!! Jacket needs fitted and the sleeves are way too long. Either wear a tie or unbutton the first shirt button. The shirt collar shape and size doesn't look good with the jacket style. A better color would have been a cream shirt or a very light tan with a small print. What would have been cool is a print color that picks up the color of her dress. There's nothing that ties their outfits together. Personally, I hate jackets with the obviously fake pockets. They just look cheap.
Load More Replies...Her: Pleasant, elegant, lowkey. Him: I forgot to buy a suit! Run out to Men's Wearhouse and grab me whatever you see!
Diana Flores
Clothing designers are forever trapped in the "I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SUITS INTERESTING" quandary.
Arrrrgh! So close! Would have been stunning with that cut, fabric, and the way the drape lies across the jacket. But when she pulls out that stupid hangy bit, it just ruins it. It's better, but still not that great in this pic: https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/687826ca160000570b42d0e9.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale&format=webp
Gabby Thomas
Less is more. And with Gabby Thomas’ outfit, it was definitely a touch more than required.
The sprinter went for an all-white trend, wearing a Feather Trim Oscar Dress from PatBo.
The design featured an asymmetrical cut and had a feather trim along the skirt.
Terrible. The designer made her look like an extra playing a prozzie on a 1980's TV sitcom.
I like it. This is the maximal amount of feathers that an outfit needs LOL. The extra scarf fabric is OK, and it's just the right weight and length to balance out the diagonal lines. The designer knew what they were doing. The length is just perfect for her and flatters her already fabulous legs. Love the purse with that dress.
Spencer Mcmanes And Gabby Thomas
he looks half in the bag and those sneakers look stupid with those pants
Lindsey Vonn
Why are so many people missing parts of their outfit? The underwear showing just screams tacky to me.
That's because you have good taste. Covering up your underwear seems a minimal requirement for a formal event.
Load More Replies...Flattering dress but probably more appropriate for the AVN Awards in Vegas.
Proportional representation. Love the lines. SCREAMS "confidence". Colour suits her skin tone.
Once again, it could have worked if she wasn't so committed to showing her underwear. Sad, because the color and the simplicity could have been quietly sophisticated if the slit had started just above her knee. The color is nice with her hair and skin tones. But the high slit makes her thighs look clunky instead of elegant, the goofy shoes make her look like she has cankles. Looks like she forgot to take off her sports watch. She needs a dressy purse and some understated but classic jewelry to accentuate the lines of that dress.
Shane Gillis
Like most of his jokes during his ESPYs monologue, Shane Gillis’ outfit fell flat on the red carpet.
His yawn-inducing outfit barely became a subject of conversation online after he struggled to get the crowd laughing as he opened the show.
“He seems so uncomfortable,” one commenter said, while another asked, “Is the Joke in the room with us?”
“Imagine thinking this was good,” another wrote. “They’re laughing AT you.”
He's just hoping to score a part in the new Blues Brothers movie!
Off the rack funeral director suit. He's got enough money to have a nice tailored suit.
Call him boring, and call it dull, but at least he looks like he didn't get his suit off the closet floor and it fits him! I have a feeling that fabric, esp the lapel is quite nice. I'm so tired of looking at men that look like they can't be arsed to shave or comb their hair, that have to wear their sneakers instead of dress shoes, that don't know what a well-fitting suit looks like or how to tie the correct size tie knot. I'm also tired of thirty year olds that think they need to dress like a teen.
Also, it's great to be a couple both wearing phenomenal outfits, but if you're a gal being honored and you have a knock-out gown, and your escort wears an understated well-fitting suit that lets you be the jewel, that's double hot.
Load More Replies...Rae Burrell
Rae Burrell’s outfit had an odd, dizzying pattern that was hard to root for. But the WNBA star seemed comfortable, with a relaxed vibe on the red carpet.
When asked about how she gets herself “hyped up” for a big moment, she declared, “clothes.”
“Clothes! I’m a strong believer in: ‘look good, feel good, play good,’” she told GMA on the red carpet.
“Being able to express myself in clothes is just something that gets me going,” she added.
I actually like the dress, although it's not exactly "red carpet garb". A black scarf or shawl would go better than that pillow...mattress..thing
True. But so sad that modest is about the highest we can hope for. What about modest and stylish?!
Load More Replies...If you blur your eyes and stare at her dress long enought, you'll see a dinosaur!
Had little time for these insecure look-at-meeeee types in grade school and have not changed my stance since.
Biles dress was pretty, but, given how she looked doing her gymnastics, she definitely had implants done and the looked ugh!! The other women need a crash course in fsshion, what looks good what doesn't.
Trashy Binitha. I actually thought she'd been fired over her cr@ppy articles
Had little time for these insecure look-at-meeeee types in grade school and have not changed my stance since.
Biles dress was pretty, but, given how she looked doing her gymnastics, she definitely had implants done and the looked ugh!! The other women need a crash course in fsshion, what looks good what doesn't.
Trashy Binitha. I actually thought she'd been fired over her cr@ppy articles
