Olivia Rodrigo Faces Heavy Criticism Over 'Disgusting' On-Stage Act as Fans Brand It 'Unsanitary'

Footage of Olivia Rodrigo apparently wiping underarm sweat into her hair on stage has sparked a wave of criticism and debate online, with some social media users branding the move 'disgusting' and 'unsanitary'. The clip, dated 4 October and linked by LADbible to a Washington, DC performance, shows the 21-year-old during a stop on her current tour.

The singer began The Unraveled Tour on 25 September, a run of around 86 shows across North America and Europe. In the video, she is seen performing 'Serena Joy'. LADbible connects the date shown on the footage to a show listed at the Capital One Arena, citing her publicly available tour schedule.

Olivia Rodrigo Clip Draws Conflicting Reactions

In the clip described in the report, Rodrigo wipes her hands beneath her armpits while standing at the microphone, then appears to run them through her hair. Some viewers interpreted the movement as an attempt to style her hair using sweat.

One person reposting the video wrote: 'I've never seen someone use armpit sweat to style their hair.'

Another criticised both the gesture and what they perceived as an effort to cultivate a particular image. 'She wants to give edgy pop punk rockstar so bad but this is just genuinely disgusting and unsanitary.'

Not all responses were negative. 'Everone [sic] hating but this is kinda the coolest thing she's ever done. Sorry,' one fan wrote, defending the gesture.

Haircare Questions Follow Olivia Rodrigo Footage

Haircare had already attracted attention around the singer. In a 2023 Wired autocomplete interview, 'what shampoo does olivia rodrigo use?' appeared among the most-searched questions about her.

After Rodrigo named Good Hair Day, screenshots circulated at the time appeared to indicate that the shampoo had sold out.

Addressing the broader issue of perspiration and hair, dermatologist Dr Alexandra Bowles told NBC: 'Sweat itself isn't inherently bad for the hair or scalp, but when it sits there for a prolonged period, the combination of moisture, salt, oil and heat can create buildup and leave the scalp feeling itchy, irritated or uncomfortable.'

Her explanation concerned sweat remaining on the hair or scalp for a prolonged period. It was not presented as an assessment of Rodrigo's performance or the gesture in the clip.

Earlier Dress Backlash Upset Olivia Rodrigo

The latest criticism follows a separate dispute over the short, white floral 'babydoll' dress Rodrigo wore to perform 'Drop Dead' at Barcelona's Teatre Grec on 8 May. Some critics described the garment as 'childlike'.

Discussing that reaction on the New York Times' Popcast, she described feeling 'so upset' and attributed the response to sexist double standards.

'What's really disturbing is I feel like I have worn outfits that are revealing on stage. Like, I've been on stage in like a sparkly bra, little shorts, which is my right,' she stated. 'That's fun. I felt cool and comfortable in that.

'And that wasn't "inappropriate" – but me fully covered up in a dress that people deem to be childlike was inappropriate.' She added: 'I think it shows how we really normalize pedophilia in our culture.

'And also it's just this rhetoric that we're fed as girls since we're so little, which is like, "Don't wear that because then a man is going to sexualize your body and it's your fault." 'Like, it's so weird.'

Those comments addressed the Barcelona outfit dispute. LADbible's report did not include a response from Rodrigo to the criticism of the sweat gesture.