Olivia Rodrigo Branded 'Unsanitary' and 'Disgusting' After Using Armpit Sweat to Fix Her Hair During Concert

A viral clip from Olivia Rodrigo's concert in Washington, DC, appears to show the singer wiping her hands under her armpits before running them through her hair. The video's original source has not been independently verified. The footage has drawn criticism from some viewers who called the apparent gesture 'disgusting' and 'unsanitary', while others defended her stage persona.

The reaction comes as Rodrigo continues The Unraveled Tour, which has attracted attention for its theatrical costumes and unusual visual effects, including a water-reactive dress that dissolves on stage.

Olivia Rodrigo's Armpit Sweat Hair Gesture Sparks 'Disgusting' Backlash

The footage appears to show Rodrigo standing at a microphone while performing her song Serena Joy. The video carries a date stamp of 4 October, when she performed at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC as part of a two-night stand.

During the performance, Rodrigo appears to wipe her hands under her armpits before running them through her hair, in a movement resembling someone applying a hair product. The footage does not establish whether she was deliberately using sweat to style her hair or what prompted the gesture.

The clip was shared on X by a user posting under the handle @aidan7501, whose caption read, 'i've never seen someone use armpit sweat to style their hair-'. The post attracted attention, with viewers questioning the apparent gesture and debating whether it reflected an attempt to provoke a reaction.

Fans Call Olivia Rodrigo's Stage Antics 'Disgusting' and 'Unsanitary'

Reactions on X were mixed. Some users expressed disgust at what they interpreted as Rodrigo using sweat as a styling product, while others accused her of trying too hard to cultivate an edgy image.

One critic wrote that Rodrigo 'wants to give edgy pop punk rockstar so bad but this is just genuinely disgusting and unsanitary asf'.

Another post accused the singer of 'trying way too hard to manufacture viral moments' on her tour.

A third viewer objected to bodily-fluid-related stage antics more broadly, saying they wanted to 'see performance not that s**t'.

Not everyone viewed the gesture negatively. One social media user offered a contrasting interpretation, writing that Rodrigo was 'using natural oils instead of giving into capitalism'.

The comments represent the views of individual users and do not establish overall audience opinion. They illustrate how a brief onstage moment can become a wider debate about artistic expression, audience expectations and the line between provocative performance and behaviour that some viewers find off-putting.

Olivia Rodrigo's Melting Dress Also Divides Fans on Unraveled Tour

The clip follows another widely discussed moment from the tour involving a costume that transforms during a performance. During 'The Cure', Rodrigo wears a water-reactive dress designed by Hussein Chalayan.

The white outer layer gradually dissolves under artificial rain, revealing a red corseted outfit underneath. The designer has said the team wanted to convey 'vulnerability as the upper layer dissolves', and the costume was a planned theatrical transformation rather than an accidental wardrobe malfunction.

The effect debuted at the tour's opening performance in Hartford, Connecticut, on 25 September 2026, as reported by Vogue.

Tour Draws Praise as Well as Debate

Not all discussion of the tour has centred on viral moments. In a review published on 5 October 2026, Melissa Ruggieri suggested that Rodrigo's Unraveled Tour might be the year's best. The review praised the staging and Rodrigo's performance at Capital One Arena on 4 October, the second of two sold-out Washington shows.

Neither viral moment establishes that Rodrigo intended to provoke controversy. The response to the armpit clip has focused on perceived hygiene, while the dress drew comment mainly for its visual impact.

The debate nevertheless highlights the differing expectations audiences bring to live performances, particularly when an artist's stage persona challenges conventional ideas of glamour and presentation.