Tems is the latest celeb to be meme-ified following her 2023 Oscars look!
If you tuned into the 95th Academy Awards, you probably saw all the star-studded attendees in their Sunday best… And you DEFINITELY couldn’t have missed the Free Mind singer in her elegant white dress that included a MASSIVE shoulder piece and lengthy train. If you didn’t see the full look on the carpet, here it is in all its glory:
Pretty iconic on the red carpet, we must say — or champagne carpet in this case. But while sitting down in the Dolby Theatre? Not so much.
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The songwriter, who helped Rihanna pen the Academy Award-nominated song Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has become a viral sensation after fans couldn’t see past her in the audience of the Sunday night broadcast. Her dramatic shoulder piece, which wrapped around her head, pretty much entirely blocked the view of anyone sitting behind her! See what we mean (below):
Yikes! Can you imagine getting the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go the Oscars and not being able to see anything because someone wore that? How rude!
Fans quickly took to Twitter to joke about the impracticality of her dress:
“Who is the most selfish, ignorant person tonight?”
“I can’t help but laugh because every time I see Tems I know them people behind her are SICK”
“I know whomever is behind Tems is mad as Hell”
“Yo, what the f**k is Tems wearing? She getting married at the after parties? She’s blocking everyone’s view.”
“The lady behind Tems’ neck is going to be hurting after tonight”
“And the Oscar for the Most Ridiculous Dress worn by a SELFISH, RUDE DIVA goes to … #TEMS for obstructing people’s view in her role in LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!”
Other users took issue with her look in a more serious way, calling on the Academy to enforce some sort of dress code:
“This was so f’n rude”
“Oscars, make Tems sit in the back or remove that outrageous view-obstructing piece”
“She looks stunning but perhaps the designers could have made the top bit detachable.”
Even the Sklar Brothers chimed in!
We had great seats at #theoscars2023. Until… pic.twitter.com/xKd6j3dTGY
— The Sklar Brothers (@SklarBrothers) March 13, 2023
Others, however, showed support for the 27-year-old’s bold look:
“Consider yourself lucky to even sit at her back”
“If you’re sitting BEHIND greatness that is known as Tems, then perhaps you’re just not that important.”
“That’s not Tems’ issue”
“That’s queen [Tems]. They should try and hustle for front seat next time.”
Related: ALL The Oscars Live Performances — WATCH!
Full spectrum debate on this one! See some of the funniest memes (below):
POV: You’re sitting behind Tems at the Oscars pic.twitter.com/I36RqsE5pf
— Danielle Pinnock (@bodycourage) March 13, 2023
what people sitting behind tems are seeing ???? #Oscars #Oscars2023 pic.twitter.com/yBgi9ZQQxA
— lasulja (@lasulja) March 13, 2023
Interviewer: “what’s your highlight of tonight’s oscar awards”
The man behind Tems: “I couldn’t see anything, Tems stole the show” pic.twitter.com/79EdZBNmMG
— ???????????????????? (@TheMahleek) March 13, 2023
My first time at the Oscar’s and I sat behind Tems #Oscars pic.twitter.com/QIfBUengmx
— T.R. Youngblood (@TRYoungblood) March 13, 2023
Really appreciate the #Oscars for the free seat behind Tems! pic.twitter.com/SBcetFWnG8
— Eric Rutherford (@e__rutherford) March 13, 2023
The singer has even since seemed to subtly address the criticism surrounding her dress, uploading four pics of her own, with the caption, “oops” :
Oops.☺️ pic.twitter.com/en3XjAamhI
— TEMS (@temsbaby) March 13, 2023
Sorry not sorry?
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar about the bold look, she seemed to say she meant to draw this much attention, explaining:
“The dress is also my way of celebrating my work and the people around me, celebrating my country, and celebrating the people that are rooting for me. This dress says ‘Yes, yes, I am here!'”
Yeah, maybe “the people around me” wasn’t the best choice of words there as it probably didn’t actually feel that celebratory to the people who were actually around her…
What do YOU think of Tems’ Oscars gown, Perezcious readers? Should she have worn something more theatre-friendly, or is it all good in the name of fashion? Share your thoughts in the comments down below!