BRITS 2025: JADE takes home first award and Ofcom logs complaints over Sabrina Carpenter opener
Written by Neave Colwell on 3rd March 2025
South Shields’ very own JADE won her first Brit Award at the 2025 ceremony on Saturday (March 1st) taking home the award for Best Pop Act.
Jade Thirlwall after winning the Best Pop Act award during The BRIT Awards. Contributor: PA Images
The former Little Mix star debuted her solo career with the hit ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ in July 2024, debuting at number seven on the UK singles chart.
But while JADE’s victory stole headlines, the ceremony was also overshadowed by controversy. Broadcast regulator Ofcom confirmed it has received more than 800 complaints following performances by Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX, sparking debate over on-stage sexuality and censorship.
Singer Sabrina Carpenter opened her Brits performance wearing a red sparkling bodysuit with stockings and suspenders and performed some of her hits including ‘Espresso’ and a rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’ to keep on the BRITS theme.
Sabrina Carpenter performing at the BRIT Awards 2025 at London’s O2 Arena. Photo credit: Matt Crossick/Empics/Alamy Live News
British musician Charli XCX wore a see-through black dress which also prompted complaints to Ofcom about her appearance.
A spokesperson for Ofcom said: “We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”
One X user disagrees with the validity of the complaints, saying: “They can’t handle a woman’s sexuality.”
The Brit Awards is no stranger to prompting complaints to Ofcom, having previously received more than 300 complaints in 2020 about rapper Dave’s song Black – which was rejected by Ofcom.
X user says: “Would they have 900 complaints if Channing Tatum was doing his Magic Mike routine? It makes you wonder who complains.”
Another X user also disagrees with the complaints, stating: “Used to get this all the time in the 1980s.”
Carpenter is not the first female performer to wear lingerie on stage, with other musicians such as Madonna famously wearing lingerie to perform, such as a black lingerie outfit during her 2008 Sticky and Sweet tour and again wearing a red slip dress with fishnet tights in 2023 during The Celebration Tour. Like Sabrina, Madonna has received countless criticism and complaints for her controversial performances and sexual identity over the course of her career, as well as praise and compliments.
Madonna performs her ‘Sticky and Sweet’ tour at Wembley Stadium in central London. Contributor: Suzan Moore Alamy Images
