Charli XCX showcased some extra Brat energy at the BRIT Awards.
While accepting the award for Artist of the Year at the March 1 ceremony, the singer shared that she was criticized over her braless look during the show’s broadcast in her native U.K.
“I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples,” the 32-year-old, who wore a sheer black dress, said in her speech about the British TV network. “I feel that we’re in the era of ‘Free the Nipple,’ though, right?”
Charli then alleged that ITV “put the clap track” on, adding, “Cool. Thanks for being on my side.”
The company did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment on the matter.
Charli won a total of five honors at the BRIT Awards. In addition to Artist of the Year, she also took home the awards for Song of the Year for “Guess” with Billie Eilish, Songwriter of the Year, British Dance Act and Album of the Year for Brat.
Charli said she wanted to share the award for Album of the Year with “all artists who have ever felt that they need to compromise to be recognized and to have their moment in the sun.”
She added, “Because I think I’m living proof that maybe it takes a long time, but you don’t need to compromise. You don’t need to compromise your vision. It’s kind of the long road, but if you do your own thing and you do it well, eventually, I think if you believe in yourself enough, and honestly, if you make good enough music, people will resonate, with you and be right there with you.”
The singer thanked those who believed in her and hypothesized what her next album would look like.
“I feel like it’s so in my instinct to just not do the same thing twice,” she said. “So I’ll probably never make a record like this again. I’ll probably reject it completely and do something completely different. I think that’s the charm of being an artist. So thank you so much to the people who’ve been with me the whole way.”
Look back at Charli XCX over the years…
The music artist, who won her first three Grammy Awards in February, said she’s always felt like an insider in the music industry, especially in the U.K.
“And so it feels really nice to be recognized on this album when I actually haven’t really made any sacrifices. I’ve been doing my own thing in my own corner of the industry for a minute. I’ve never really changed. I’ve worked with the same incredible people,” she said. “I guess this time around, culture caught up with us and wanted to be on the journey with us.”
Charli said she wanted to share the award for Album of the Year with “all artists who have ever felt that they need to compromise to be recognized and to have their moment in the sun.”
She added, “Because I think I’m living proof that maybe it takes a long time, but you don’t need to compromise. You don’t need to compromise your vision. It’s kind of the long road, but if you do your own thing and you do it well, eventually, I think if you believe in yourself enough, and honestly, if you make good enough music, people will resonate, with you and be right there with you.”
The singer thanked those who believed in her and hypothesized what her next album would look like.
“I feel like it’s so in my instinct to just not do the same thing twice,” she said. “So I’ll probably never make a record like this again. I’ll probably reject it completely and do something completely different. I think that’s the charm of being an artist. So thank you so much to the people who’ve been with me the whole way.”
Look back at Charli XCX over the years…
2009
Charli XCX began her music career in 2008, posting songs on Myspace before being discovered by a promoter.
2011
After signing a recording contract with Asylum Records in 2010, the singer-songwriter (real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison) spent her early years discovering what kind of musician she wanted to be.
“I didn’t know who I was,” she told The Guardian in 2013. “I didn’t know what I liked. Even though I was signed, I was still figuring it out.”
2012
The Cambridge, England, native had her first major breakthrough as a writer and collaborator on Icona Pop‘s “I Love It,” which hit number one in the U.K. the following year.
2013
Charli released her debut studio album, True Romance, in April 2013.
2014
The following year brought yet another iconic collaboration with the release of “Fancy” with Iggy Azalea. And it wasn’t long after that her track “Boom Clap” became a sensation after being featured in The Fault in Our Stars, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.
2015
She joined Taylor Swift for a punk performance of “Shake It Off” during the 1989 World Tour stop in Toronto.
2016
Charli traded in her signature edgy style for a sporty tennis skirt in this 2016 portrait session.
2017
The British pop sensation stayed true to herself as her career took, releasing mixtape, Number 1 Angel in 2017.
“Number 1 Angel is probably my favorite music that I’ve released,” she told the San Francisco Chronicle that March. “It was me just doing my thing, saying what was on my mind, without pressure or intention.”
2018
She once again joined Taylor on stage, playing over 50 stadiums as one of two openers—Camila Cabello was the other—for the Reputation Stadium Tour.
2019
Five years after her last studio album, she released her third studio album, Charli.
“This is the most personal body of work I will have released,” she told E! News in September 2019. “I cover ground I have covered before, but I also delve into my own mental health, which is a new thing for me. It just felt like the right time to discuss it.”
2020
To the Brit Awards, Charli opted for a “chic and girly” look—as she described to British Vogue—donning a black Fendi gown.
2021
The “Apple” singer was dressed to impress in a lacy black dress for the 2021 MTV Music Awards.
2022
The Grammy nominee posed with Paris Hilton for the 2022 Spotify Wrapped playground party in Los Angeles.
2023
She’s everywhere, she’s so Julia—including at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar party, where she stunned in a gothic two-piece gown.
2024
The pop star attended the 2024 Met Gala, rocking a punk-inspired Marni gown that was mended together from vintage T-shirts.
2024
Brat summer has officially begun with Charli XCX touring with Troye Sivan for their 2024 Sweat Tour.
The release of Charli’s sixth album, Brat, kicked a viral cultural phenomenon into gear, with even Vice President Kamala Harris playing into the trend as part of her presidential campaign. After all, Charli proudly deemed the politician to be “so brat.”
