Oscar-nominated musician Tems was an unexpected breakout star at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday, and he didn’t even appear onstage.
Instead, the “Lift Me Up” co-writer caused a stir with the vastness and perceived enormity of her Oscars gown. specifically when glimpses of her sitting in the middle of the row at the Dolby Theater turned on audiences who sympathized with those unfortunate enough to sit behind the view-obstructing garment. The discourse has been a variety of sartorial praise, happy memes and accusations of disrespectand those who criticize the artist are considered racists.
“I’m cryingonnnnn”, music producer Alex Medina tweeted, sharing a TV clip of a woman behind Tems looking around the garment. “Tems made that lady fight for her life”
The Nigerian singer’s cloud-like dress, which included a voluminous bow that went over and behind her head, was made by the Los Angeles-based Ukrainian design house. couture lever and designed by Dunsin Wright. the dress was exhibited during fashion week in Tokyo last September and caused a sensation when Tems adorned the champagne colored rug at Sunday’s Oscars in Hollywood.
While the spectacular piece took the 27-year-old to several best dressed lists, also took on a life of its own on social media, where the speech focused on how it negatively affected Oscar attendees. In fact, Tems was visible in several aerial shots inside the theater and as cameras panned around the room to show the audience. The woman looming behind the singer also became something of an online celebrity, as Twitter users empathized with her plight.
Tems at the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“You just know that the person sitting behind her is so angry,” BuzzFeed writer David Mack. tweeted.
“Imagine the person sitting behind Tems during the Oscars, they definitely feel a certain way. Like ‘this is disrespectful’”. wrote other.
“Tems said you don’t need to see any other bodies,” wrote one Instagram user. weighing in the moment.
“Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a strat cloud.” tweeted writer Jarrett Bellini, who was quickly shut down by Tems fans.
“Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and have the presence of Honor of Items,” said one fan. answered.
Tems’ white dress can be seen on the left during host Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Meanwhile, fans and fashionistas continued to defend the singer (real name Temilade Openiyi) while others made fun of her. the false outrage.
“Someone wore a quilt to an event a few days ago, but the Tems dress is where everyone draws the line. Nonsense,” observed other.
“Tems didn’t win any Oscars, but she’s still the talk of the event, a queen.” aggregate other.
“The Tems dress was beautiful. Tems is absolutely beautiful. Tems is my star girl and all that. Items blocking the view of people wearing her dress was inconsiderate. People pointing that out are not racism, as long as they don’t use derogatory language. Humans need to be more honest.” tweeted other.
The Grammy-winning “Wait for U” singer has yet to comment on the reaction on social media. In fact, his last tweet was from Valentine’s Day, imploring followers to “just come at me with jokes.”
“I want to die laughing. Trust me, it’s over after that,” she wrote at the time.
Representatives for Tems, Lever Couture and her stylist did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Times on Monday. Neither did the representatives of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences.