Credits: BBC

Here are a few stars that made great political statements with their red carpet dresses:-

Lady Gaga's meat dress

Credits: Time Magazine

The iconic meat dress is still remembered as one of the most bizarre and unorthodox designs to be worn by a celebrity on a red carpet event. The meat dress came consisting of a full-length frock with a thigh-high slit and also with a mini matching bonnet and heels to go, all in meat, too. The VMAs dress worn by Lady Gaga in 2010 was donned so as to voice her strong opinion against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the US military. Apparently, it prohibits military personnel from talking about their sexual orientation. 

In a later interview with The Ellen Degeneres show, Lady Gaga revealed, "If we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights...pretty soon we're going to have as many rights as the meat on our bones."

Travon Free and police brutality

Credits: NY Daily News

The actor showed up at the 2021 Academy Awards in a yellow Dolce & Gabbana suit. The suit jacket's lining was adorned with the names of people killed due to the US police's brutality towards the Black folks. He was also attending the awards for his film, Two Distant strangers, co-directed by him that also follows on a similar plot of police brutality in the US. 

Talking with Vanity Fair about the 2020 protests, he said, "Last summer, we were all marching in protest, just about every day for a couple of weeks. Thinking about all the names — George and Breonna and all the other names you see on signs — I was thinking about how you internalize the emotions each time one of those stories happens."

It is natural for the Black community to go through feelings of immense dread and then hate for the system, so evidently designed against them and one that is so regular to punish them for their race. Hence, he added, "At least as a Black person, you cycle through being really angry, and then you're sad, and then you feel a bit of hopelessness. Sometimes it starts up again before you can even finish talking about the last killing... It just feels like the worst version of Groundhog Day. I wanted to put that on the page and see if I could get people to feel what that feels like, even a little bit."

Laverne Cox and trans rights

Credits: Pride

Laverne Cox stood by the LGTBQ+ community as she carried a clutch that read "Oct. 8, Title VII, Supreme Court" and "#TRANSISBEAUTIFUL'' on the other side. The rainbow Edie Parker clutch also featured a transgender pride flag. Cox had designed to carry the clutch to bring the rights of the LGBTQ+, and mainly transgender people, into the limelight. The date and Title mentioned on the clutch refer to the Supreme Court hearing that cleared on employment rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The hearing had stated protection from discrimination on work platforms for the community to be subject to the same laws as that of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Cox told E! in an interview, "A lot of people aren't talking about this case, and it has implications for the LGBT community. But it has implications for women and anyone who doesn't conform to someone else's idea of how you should be... A man or woman or neither!"

Padma Laxmi and DREAM Act

Credits: People

In 2017, when Trump was still president, he took away the DREAM act which would then evacuate people who had entered the US as minors. Padma Laxmi took to protesting this blatant disregard of civility, especially because America is a country thriving off immigrants. Hence, Laxmi, who is an ambassador of ACLU, took to wearing a blue ACLU ribbon to the 2017 Emmy Awards to show her support for the DREAM act. The act helps people become legal residents of the country and help them attain full citizenship. Many other actors have joined in the movement.

When talking to Elle, she said, "I came to this country as an immigrant myself, and I think it's important we remember that America is what it is because we're a nation of immigrants. It's also important for America to keep our word...We told [the DREAMers] it's safe, we fingerprinted them, and now we're saying, 'No, you're illegal again.' It's unthinkable."

Jennifer Nettles and women artists on country radio

Credits: Harpers Bazaar

Jennifer Nettles, a country music artist, wore a Christian Siriano pantsuit that featured a cape protesting the lack of female artists played on the country radio. The cape was designed by artist Alice Mizrachi and featured writing that read: "Play our f*@#in records, please and thank you." 

In an interview with Rolling Stone, she said, "When I heard the CMAs were going to be celebrating women, and I was going to be invited, I thought, 'What a fantastic opportunity to take the conversation beyond applause and beyond the ritual, and actually try and further it and put it out into the public consciousness, and send a message to the industry as well."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Credits: Forbes

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made quite a commotion at the Met Gala this year with her "TAX THE RICH" gown that drew attention to the words in full bold red letters. 

The Rep took to her Instagram to tell more about the message and wrote, "The medium is the message. The time is now for childcare, healthcare, and climate action for all. Tax the Rich." While several people questioned her decision to go to the elite event in the first place as tickets cost several grand dollars, she explained, "NYC elected officials are regularly invited to and attend the Met due to our responsibilities in overseeing our city's cultural institutions that serve the public." 

Lizzo and voter suppression

Credits: Style Caster

Lizzo wore a beautiful LBD, a Christian Siriano dress, to the 2020 Billboard Music Awards that was hosted only a few months before the presidential elections took place. The dress featured the word 'VOTE' printed in white onto the clothing in bold lettering. She also used her speech to bring more attention to the point along with the startling issue of voter suppression. 

As she went onto the stage to accept her award for winning the Title of the Top Song Sales Artist award, she said, "I've been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refused to be suppressed. I wonder, would I be standing here right now if it weren't for the big Black women who refused to have their voices be suppressed? ...Whether it's through music, protest, or your right to vote, use your power, use your voice, and refuse to be suppressed."