As the anticipation builds for the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, where music and style icons like Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Måneskin, and Ice Spice are expected to grace the red carpet, it’s hard to forget one of the most provocative outfits in VMAs history: Rose McGowan’s daring see-through chainmail dress, worn 25 years ago.
In 2020, McGowan, an author, activist, and former actress, expressed her disdain for the frenzied red carpet experience, describing it as an overwhelming assault of paparazzi and yelling. Despite her reservations, she made a bold statement at the 1998 VMAs when she attended with her then-boyfriend Marilyn Manson. However, few understood the profound message she was conveying through her revealing attire.
“It was my first major public appearance after being sexually assaulted,” revealed McGowan, who has long alleged that Harvey Weinstein assaulted her in 1997, just a year before her VMAs appearance. “I felt like Hollywood wanted a disposable body, someone they could use and discard. So, I said, ‘Here you go!’ It was like the scene in ‘Gladiator’ when he says, ‘Are you not entertained?’ If you look at me, I did it with power, not to be sexy. Most women on the red carpet dress provocatively to turn people on. Mine was different. I thought, ‘I’m going to mess with your mind. I’m going to blow your mind.’ And nobody had done that.”
McGowan admitted that even Marilyn Manson, her boyfriend at the time, didn’t fully grasp the intention behind her provocative attire. She had not initially disclosed the Weinstein assault to him. However, when he discovered her recurring nightmares and signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, they eventually discussed it.
Reflecting on her relationship with Manson, which lasted about three years and included a two-year engagement, McGowan revealed that his behavior turned “nasty” after their breakup. She sought solace in his rock ‘n’ roll world as a way to heal from her traumatic experiences. “It was very instrumental in healing for me because I wanted to be young and free, and I felt so old,” she explained. “After everything I had been through, I wanted to escape and have fun. It was also about protecting him because he was constantly receiving death threats. It allowed me to focus on him instead of my own issues.”
Looking back on her unforgettable VMAs fashion moment, McGowan had mixed feelings but no regrets. “It was tough. I hadn’t experienced global media shaming before, but it prepared me for later when it happened to me repeatedly,” she said. “It was like, ‘Sorry, you’re square, and I’m not.’ Why did I do it? I’ve analyzed that a lot. When you do something on instinct and in a particular mood, you examine what led to that mood or choice. I understand why I did it.”
Today, Rose McGowan has ventured into music, releasing her experimental debut album, “Planet 9,” during the 2020 lockdown. Her career, activism, and retreat from Hollywood are subjects she explores in her full interview with Yahoo Entertainment. The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards will take place on Tuesday, September 12, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
