McGowan also wrote about the headline-making moment in her memoir Brave, released last year — here’s what she had to say:
“The dress raised hell, which, I guess, was my intention of sorts, but what I didn’t anticipate was the global slut-shaming that came afterwards.
“I didn’t realise how seriously everyone would take it. Do these people not understand rebellion and humour?
“I thought, ‘It’s a music awards show’.
“My dress was punk as f**k. This is what it’s about. It was, of course, misinterpreted and sexualised, which was the exact opposite point I was trying to make.
“That’s the thing that other women who have copied me have gotten wrong through the years; when they copy the dress, they do it to be sexy and turn society on. I didn’t do it to be sexy.
“I did it with power, not to titillate or turn on the boys and men of the world.
“I did it as a big middle finger, and there’s the difference. I think that’s why it became such an iconic thing. Every year, every time there’s an awards show, that picture of me pops back up.
“It was my first time having a big scandal, so to speak, a global one, anyway. I say first time because I’ve done it several times since, but that one is the most physically memorable to people.
“For years, I was the actress who wore the dress. Regardless, it took some serious bravery to do that. I was scared, but I just did it anyway. Punk as f**k.”
PizzasarusRex on September 14th, 2021 at 11:11 UTC »
lol the late 90s early 2000s was a strange time for fashion.
MGHS10 on September 14th, 2021 at 11:15 UTC »
McGowan also wrote about the headline-making moment in her memoir Brave, released last year — here’s what she had to say:
“The dress raised hell, which, I guess, was my intention of sorts, but what I didn’t anticipate was the global slut-shaming that came afterwards.
“I didn’t realise how seriously everyone would take it. Do these people not understand rebellion and humour?
“I thought, ‘It’s a music awards show’.
“My dress was punk as f**k. This is what it’s about. It was, of course, misinterpreted and sexualised, which was the exact opposite point I was trying to make.
“That’s the thing that other women who have copied me have gotten wrong through the years; when they copy the dress, they do it to be sexy and turn society on. I didn’t do it to be sexy.
“I did it with power, not to titillate or turn on the boys and men of the world.
“I did it as a big middle finger, and there’s the difference. I think that’s why it became such an iconic thing. Every year, every time there’s an awards show, that picture of me pops back up.
“It was my first time having a big scandal, so to speak, a global one, anyway. I say first time because I’ve done it several times since, but that one is the most physically memorable to people.
“For years, I was the actress who wore the dress. Regardless, it took some serious bravery to do that. I was scared, but I just did it anyway. Punk as f**k.”
StevenSanders90210 on September 14th, 2021 at 11:57 UTC »
VMA costumes. 😂