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800+ Complaints Sent To UK Regulator, Majority Over Sabrina Carpenter And Charli XCX
Interview With ExpertThe Brit Awards turned out to be too hot to handle for viewers, who filed numerous complaints, with the majority of them related to Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative performance and Charli XCX’s outfit.
The annual star-studded ceremony was held at London’s O2 Arena on March 1, and the controversy continues over all the skin and cheeky acts that viewers laid their eyes on.
Highlights
- Around 825 complaints were made to Ofcom (UK's media regulator) over the Brit Awards.
- Majority of the complaints were related to Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative performance and Charli XCX’s outfit.
- Sabrina's opening of the show was deemed "inappropriate" at what "used to be a family event."
- Meanwhile, Charli XCX spoke about people "complaining about [her] nipples" as she accepted the award.
About 825 complaints relating to the Brit Awards were made to Ofcom (the Office of Communications)—the UK’s media regulator.
RELATED:
About 825 complaints were filed over the Brit Awards, with most of them related to Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative performance and Charli XCX’s outfit
Image credits: BRITs
The majority of the complaints received by the media watchdog were reportedly related to Sabrina’s debut BRIT Awards performance and Charli XCX’s outfit.
Sabrina, who opened the show around 8:15 p.m., served her hit song Espresso in the tea-loving country.
She was seen parading across the stage with her dancers dressed as the King’s Guard.
Image credits: Sabrina Carpenter
For the second half of her performance, the pop diva went on to give a sultry rendition of Bed Chem, dressed in red lingerie on a heart-shaped bed.
The performance ended with a dancer, dressed like a royal guard, winking at the audience.
Sabrina picked up the 2025 Brit global success award, presented by actress Millie Bobby Brown, during the glitzy spectacle.
She said during her acceptance speech that she first visited the UK at the age of 10 with her mother, back when “nobody knew” her.
Sabrina picked up the 2025 Brit global success award
Image credits: Sabrina Carpenter
“All I kept thinking about was one day how exciting it would feel if anyone in the UK knew my music,” she said.
Calling the award an “insane honor,” she added, “You really understand my dry sense of humor because your sense of humor is so, so dry.”
However, viewers didn’t see her performance with admiration or a sense of humor.
The awards show “used to be a family event,” one commenter groaned on social media.
Many parents also tsk-tsked at the performance. “It was more like watching a strip club,” one said, while another wrote, “I had to explain to my 9-year-old why this is inappropriate.”
“As a dad of 11 and 13 year old girls I am fuming that this was the opening scenes of #BRITs2025,” one social media user said
Image credits: Sabrina Carpenter
“Awful, was an uncomfortable watch with my young children,” another said.
On the other hand, fans suggested “just change channels if you don’t like it.”
“Get a grip,” another said, “was just a performance.”
“Sabrina Carpenter doing Bed Chem pre-watershed? The ofcom complaints about that performance are gonna be through the roof but I enjoyed it. That’s my girl!” a fan wrote.
Watershed refers to the time in the UK when content unsuitable for children is aired. This begins at 9 p.m. in the country, according to Ofcom.
Sabrina appeared to address the controversy in an Instagram post by sharing pictures from the awards show with the caption, “Brits 🇬🇧💋 i now know what watershed is!!!!”
Charli XCX’s dark, sheer outfit at the Brit Awards sparked massive outrage
Image credits: BRITs
Among the many disapproving viewers who filed complaints with Ofcom, some made a fuss about Charli XCX’s outfit as well.
The singer emerged as the big winner during the award show, taking home five awards in total, including Best Artist, Best Album, and Song of the Year.
But some viewers were more focused on her long, dark sheer outfit designed by Dilara Findikoglu.
Image credits: charlixcx
During her acceptance speech for Artist of the Year, the Apple singer said, “I’ve heard that ITV [British broadcaster] were complaining about my nipples.”
“I feel like we’re in the era of free the nipple, though, right?” she added.
Charli XCX certainly was not the only star to embrace the ultra-revealing style of dressing during this award season.
The Apple singer took home five awards in total from the show
Image credits: brits
Stars like Julia Fox, Zoë Kravitz, and Katy Perry are just a few of the many celebrities who have opted for tushie-showing outfits at high-profile events.
In today’s day and age, where audiences are drowning in content, experts say showing some skin is an easy way to grab attention.
When all kinds of social media content, celebrity events, and political news are “competing for people’s attention,” the “n*ked skin” is one element that can “cut through the noise,” according to consumer behavior expert Morgan Ward from Goizueta Business School.
Image credits: BRITs
“The sight of uncovered skin can create a number of strong emotional responses, from attraction to fear to curiosity to embarrassment,” she told Bored Panda via email.
“Thus, showing one’s n*ked skin is a reliable way to draw attention and evoke strong emotion. You can call it ‘shock value’ and sometimes it is,” she continued.
“But I think that it can also be a way of defying social norms, asserting ownership over our bodies and even a political statement depending on the context in which it is done.”
“I feel like we’re in the era of free the nipple, though, right?” Charli XCX said on stage
Image credits: BRITs
Fashion expert Therèsa M. Winge said there could be a “multitude” of reasons for why a celebrity opts for skin-baring outfits. These could be body positivity, shock value, and even empowerment.
She also noted that the ultra-revealing fashion trend could also be a reaction to conservative politics.
“With the notably conservative politics currently dominating the media, it is no wonder that the red carpets saw risk-taking fashions that strategically reveal the body as a sub/conscious reaction to the current politics,” she told Bored Panda.
“Brits 🇬🇧💋 i now know what watershed is!!!!” Sabrina wrote on Instagram, seemingly addressing the outrage
Image credits: Sabrina Carpenter
“The cultural shifts beyond reactions to conservative politics that contributed to the revealing fashions on the red carpets is likely both body positivity and seeking attention via the images going viral for the outrageous content,” the Body Style author said.
“Social media provides space for people to not only garner attention but also become celebrities, influencers, and the like for the content of their postings,” she added.
“We need more of this, put the prudes back where they belong,” one fan said
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What do you think ?
Mari 9 months ago
I think if you are really talented, you don't need to be (almost)n***d to have succes. Why do men preform in a t shirt, jeans and sneakers and female artists have to undress themselves?
Gozer LeGozerian 9 months ago
Society hates women. Just take a look at this site. Numerous articles obsessed with how women look but not a single one about men. Female musicians very well would have to reinvent themselves every few years to keep the interest going or just straight up perform half naiked as you said, regardless of their talent. Very few have managed to just go on the stage with a microphone and a band and just perform and still have a career.
Load More Replies...
Donna Peluda 9 months ago
In the words of George Carlin. The TV has two knobs one for the volume and the other to change the forking channel.
Mike F 9 months ago
And, for the last 30 years or so, you don't even need to leave your chair to do it. Personally, pop music in the last 20 years or so doesn't do it for me, that said, watch what you want to watch and if it's too much for your delicate eyes, change the channel.
Load More Replies... 
Argotina Schmurgle 9 months ago
Watched this live by accident. I changed the channel. It wasn't the scanty costumes but the choreography which seemed to consist mostly of young women opening their thighs to the camera. Gross.
Nice Beast Ludo 9 months ago
Clearly not in the era of "free n****e" when the word itself is blurred out
Froyn Laven 9 months ago
I don't care if they want to sing, they do not. What bothers me is the arrogance and the entitlement
BTDubs 9 months ago
They have bodies and they show them, what entitlement?
Load More Replies...
Bacon Tentacles 9 months ago
The nation that brought you Page 3 Girls is now complaining about the Brit awards being too racy. What a time to be alive.
Joe Bloe 9 months ago
Artist rely more and more on outrage or s*x to get exposure... It became a competition about who will wear the less cloth, in almost any artistic gala. And after that they complain we put too much attention to how they look. I hope people will want to be acclaim by their work, not how they look.
William Teach 9 months ago
There's a time or place for everything. This was not the time or place for this. For doing what was an adult oriented show, entirely inappropriate for children.
Sanfransweety 9 months ago
I remember as a child the elderly said, "Soon there will be nothing left for the h***ers to wear." We are there. There is not enough fabric for any of this to be considered fashion. My daughter pointed out that every successful wears lingerie
StumblingThroughLife 9 months ago (edited)
They might as well be n***d. 🙄 Attention seekers at the end of the day. I don't care - as long as my 2 younger granddaughters don't think that this is the norm, and try to emulate them. We do have a watershed in the UK, re: pg-13 limit, before 9pm, and instead of mocking it, how about they respect our rules? It's not hard. Or, just air it after 9pm GMT. Simples 🙃
Donna Peluda 9 months ago
My SIL encouraged my nieces 7&9 to do all the Shakira style dance routines..even performing at family events. When I pointed out to my BIL that I was working in Ibiza the next week and would try and reserve a poll for them once they were 18. Didn't go down well
Load More Replies...
PenguinEmp 9 months ago
Suck it up. You have kids watching it? That would be a great parenting moment. Maybe explain to your child that this is not what people expect from you. This is a costume. This is her act. Etc. Whatever your values are of course. Or change the channel
Hidalgo 9 months ago
Given that the UK has drifted into being a colony in the world’s first truly f*****t global empire, their economy is in free fall, and their systems are collapsing; one would think they other things to worry about. But, I guess the Murdoch media keeps them riled up
Mari 9 months ago
I think if you are really talented, you don't need to be (almost)n***d to have succes. Why do men preform in a t shirt, jeans and sneakers and female artists have to undress themselves?
Gozer LeGozerian 9 months ago
Society hates women. Just take a look at this site. Numerous articles obsessed with how women look but not a single one about men. Female musicians very well would have to reinvent themselves every few years to keep the interest going or just straight up perform half naiked as you said, regardless of their talent. Very few have managed to just go on the stage with a microphone and a band and just perform and still have a career.
Load More Replies... Donna Peluda 9 months ago
In the words of George Carlin. The TV has two knobs one for the volume and the other to change the forking channel.
Mike F 9 months ago
And, for the last 30 years or so, you don't even need to leave your chair to do it. Personally, pop music in the last 20 years or so doesn't do it for me, that said, watch what you want to watch and if it's too much for your delicate eyes, change the channel.
Load More Replies... Argotina Schmurgle 9 months ago
Watched this live by accident. I changed the channel. It wasn't the scanty costumes but the choreography which seemed to consist mostly of young women opening their thighs to the camera. Gross.
Nice Beast Ludo 9 months ago
Clearly not in the era of "free n****e" when the word itself is blurred out
Froyn Laven 9 months ago
I don't care if they want to sing, they do not. What bothers me is the arrogance and the entitlement
BTDubs 9 months ago
They have bodies and they show them, what entitlement?
Load More Replies... Bacon Tentacles 9 months ago
The nation that brought you Page 3 Girls is now complaining about the Brit awards being too racy. What a time to be alive.
Joe Bloe 9 months ago
Artist rely more and more on outrage or s*x to get exposure... It became a competition about who will wear the less cloth, in almost any artistic gala. And after that they complain we put too much attention to how they look. I hope people will want to be acclaim by their work, not how they look.
William Teach 9 months ago
There's a time or place for everything. This was not the time or place for this. For doing what was an adult oriented show, entirely inappropriate for children.
Sanfransweety 9 months ago
I remember as a child the elderly said, "Soon there will be nothing left for the h***ers to wear." We are there. There is not enough fabric for any of this to be considered fashion. My daughter pointed out that every successful wears lingerie
StumblingThroughLife 9 months ago (edited)
They might as well be n***d. 🙄 Attention seekers at the end of the day. I don't care - as long as my 2 younger granddaughters don't think that this is the norm, and try to emulate them. We do have a watershed in the UK, re: pg-13 limit, before 9pm, and instead of mocking it, how about they respect our rules? It's not hard. Or, just air it after 9pm GMT. Simples 🙃
Donna Peluda 9 months ago
My SIL encouraged my nieces 7&9 to do all the Shakira style dance routines..even performing at family events. When I pointed out to my BIL that I was working in Ibiza the next week and would try and reserve a poll for them once they were 18. Didn't go down well
Load More Replies... PenguinEmp 9 months ago
Suck it up. You have kids watching it? That would be a great parenting moment. Maybe explain to your child that this is not what people expect from you. This is a costume. This is her act. Etc. Whatever your values are of course. Or change the channel
Hidalgo 9 months ago
Given that the UK has drifted into being a colony in the world’s first truly f*****t global empire, their economy is in free fall, and their systems are collapsing; one would think they other things to worry about. But, I guess the Murdoch media keeps them riled up
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