The UK media watchdog Ofcom has received 825 complaints about last weekend’s televised music industry Brit Awards ceremony.
BBC News reports that the majority of the complaints referred to Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy performance (shown on pre-watershed evening ITV) and to Charlie XCX’s revealing outfit.
UK artist Charlie XCX was the big winner on the night taking home five awards in total across the evening, but headlines were dominated by her see-through black dress. At one point during the ceremony, she told the audience:
“I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of ‘free the nipple’ though, right?”
Carpenter, who won the international artist award, opened the event with a mash-up of her hits Espresso and Bed Chem, which she blended with British marching anthem Rule Britannia! She was dressed in a military-style jacket paired with stockings and suspenders.
BBC News quotes an Ofcom spokesperson saying: “We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”
The watchdog is used to receiving complaints from television viewers about the Brit Awards, which often makes headlines independent of who has won the prizes.
2020 saw rapper Dave’s performance receive over 300 complaints that his performance was racist against white people, something rejected by Ofcom. Kendrick Lamar’s performance in 2018 also incited complaints, and in 2015 Kanye West’s appearance on stage raised 151 complaints about offensive language and race discrimination.
Other winners at this year’s Brit Awards, which were hosted by Jack Whitehall, included Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, The Last Dinner Party and Ezra Collective.
