The 67th annual Grammy Awards brought many history-making moments, from Beyoncé becoming the first Black woman to win Best Country Album in fifty years, to Kendrick Lamar’s sweep of the hip-hop category. Our Gen Z Swamp Princess, Doechii, also made history, becoming the third female rapper to win Best Rap Album. While music’s biggest night was definitely one for the culture, it wasn’t without controversy — and yes, Ye f.k.a Kanye West was involved.
As the industry’s biggest stars showed off their fashion-forward regalia on the red carpet, one particular ensemble is still a topic of conversation: Ye’s wife, Bianca Censori in a naked dress. While this isn’t far from the first time a celebrity has worn the silhouette, the Australian model’s garment simply bared it all. Censori stepped out in a black fur coat — which she soon dropped to reveal a mini slip that was so sheer, leaving her entirely exposed beneath. Meanwhile, Ye wore a black T-shirt and trousers.
Days later, questions are still lingering in our minds as to what prompted this bizarre decision. According to the New York Post, Censori allegedly tried to back out of the stunt, however, Ye insisted, with an insider stating, “She would have much rather worn a pretty dress.” And honestly, we would have rathered it too.
While controversy and Ye have almost become synonymous, I don’t think we’re outraged over Censori’s look is just about picking on him. It could be argued that her wardrobe choices aren’t entirely her own, especially given her alleged apprehension about the stunt. If that’s the case, is this yet another example of men controlling women?
Since Censori remains relatively silent, a sense of mystery surrounds her—ironic, given how much of her physicality we’ve seen. You can’t exactly fault us for having questions. Everything we know about Censori comes from what her husband chooses to reveal. Throughout their relationship, Ye has posted and deleted multiple photos of his wife, many of them provocative, like one of her in a barely-there swimsuit. In classic Ye fashion, he’s clapped back at social media’s reaction over his posts saying, “I post her because she makes me happy, that’s why y’all are happy with the music; because I’m happy….If you don’t like my page and don’t like what I’m posting, go f**k yourself.”
While the Yeezy founder’s control over Censori is a possibility, the couple’s dynamic appears to be unconventional, in this way that seems complex to understand — and maybe it’s not meant for us to understand. It could be that our craving for an explanation of the moment plays into the male dominance stereotype as if that’s the only way to rationalize such behavior; that Censori couldn’t possibly have made this choice on her own accord. We haven’t given her the freedom to say if this is self-expression or not, because the worst has already been assumed. The narrative that Ye is controlling Censori’s every move, while she maintains her role as the puppet has already been proven as truth in our minds, so maybe she feels that she doesn’t have anything to answer for. After all, celebrities are people too, who all have the choice of free will. And before anything else, Censori is a woman, who can govern herself however she wants. It could be that the muse’s penchant for wearing body-baring ensembles is exactly just that, hers.
Whether this stunt was Censori’s or Ye’s decision, the Grammy Awards probably wasn’t the place for it. The red carpet is indeed a place for individualism and expression of self, but to what degree? What was Censori trying to say by wearing a naked dress? Was she trying to say anything at all?
Though, it’s unfair for us to jump to conclusions about Censori’s well-being based on her ever-revealing clothing, it is unsettling that her body is paraded around at this level, all the time. And Ye’s approval doesn’t help our understanding either. Regardless of the motive, the nakedness of Censori has us all talking and maybe that’s just what they wanted — to be the topic of conversation.