Charli XCX performed a rave-inspired rendition of ‘Von Dutch’ and ‘Guess’ at the 2025 Grammy Awards, filling the stage with underwear as well as some familiar faces – watch footage of the moment below.
To mark her debut at the awards show last night (February 2), Charli promised to perform the “least Grammy appropriate” songs in a video intro, warning viewers to “expect to be a little bit upset, honestly”.
She began by stepping out of a car with an “XCX” number plate clad in a denim two-piece and a fur coat, before being handed an Aperol Spritz and launching into ‘Von Dutch’ in a parking lot.
She then made her way to the stage alongside Alex Consani and Gabbriette Bechtel, the models featured in her ‘360’ video—which earned a nod for Record of the Year. Strutting through a parade of people, she was later flanked by friends onstage, including The Dare and Julia Fox, with the ‘Apple’ singer gyrating and crawling across the floor.
WE JUST WITNESSED THE BEST GRAMMY PERFORMANCE IN HISTORY, CHARLI XCX YOU’RE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY pic.twitter.com/FDilSsmrfz
— leon (@skyferrori) February 3, 2025
CHARLI XCX BEING THE PERFORMER OF THE CENTURY pic.twitter.com/HIEWYxSAls
— leon (@skyferrori) February 3, 2025
Throughout her performance of ‘Guess’, underwear reigned down from the ceiling in a nod to the video for the ‘Brat’ deluxe edition track ‘Guess’, in which 10,000 pairs of underwear were used – including in a scene where collaborator Billie Eilish crashes into a pile of it while driving a bulldozer.
Per PinkNews, the underwear is set to be donated to domestic violence survivors through the charity I Support The Girls after her performance, a move that follows Charli using her fashion credentials to implore brands who send her clothing to instead donate it to those affected by the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
Despite her earlier warnings about the content of the performance, it proved divisive. While long-time fans of the ‘Brat’ artist hailed her “the performer of the century”, others countered: “Performer of the century at what? Lip-syncing?” – check out more reactions to the performance below.
Performer of the century at what? Lip-syncing?
— Gabriel T. (@ga6rieltudose) February 3, 2025
Charli xcx performing the house down and putting Alex Consani on primetime television…the levels of legendaric are far too much pic.twitter.com/P3roihNXTT
— tweet deleter (@BrittanytB) February 3, 2025
“and the grammy goes to….. charli xcx”
pic.twitter.com/7PdFI5dA0Q— mefi lvs kit (he/him) 🪩 🎸 BUZON FIJADO (@cowboylikemefi) February 2, 2025
The dare playing into he’s British joke, Quen dropping it low on the left, Julia fox opening a chair. Love the CHAOS charli brought #CharliXCX #GrammyAwards #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/A9li5kwnSe
— Ahem⁷ ⋆｡°✩ (@7ArcsAndSins) February 3, 2025
Sounded tired, choreo sucked, stage presence sucked, no talk talk remix like why did you even go bitch @charli_xcx pic.twitter.com/lXrMIkigQT
— 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 (@NickisBxlls2) February 3, 2025
Charli lip syncing during her performance at the Grammys is NOT cute. idk personally doesn’t WOW me. Like great performance but ur talent is ur voice girl use it ??? pic.twitter.com/KXvwndrEnp
— nya ★ (@cagesvinyl) February 3, 2025
performance of the night charli xcx cleared pic.twitter.com/jdzp9O1G5r
— mattyhealysmells (@phoebelationss) February 3, 2025
charli xcx performance reminding me how much i hate her music why tf did she win 3 grammys for this horrible autotune shit
— zeina! ミ☆ ⸆⸉ | vienna n2 💔 (@swetteainsummer) February 3, 2025
it's literally the best performance I've ever seen in my life charli you've set the bar so high you're so much the girl you think you are :0 pic.twitter.com/yC55Papm8e
— kai (@bilsaidiwascute) February 3, 2025
Charli has been open about her use of Autotune, going as far as joking about it during her stint performing and hosting Saturday Night Live last November, when she said: “I want to take a moment to thank someone who’s been there for me my entire career: AutoTune.”
The now three time Grammy winner won in the Best Dance Pop Recording category for ‘Von Dutch’ and Best Dance/Electronic Album for ‘Brat’.
Celebrating her win, she took to Instagram to thank fans, writing: “We’ve won three grammys! this is for all of you who’ve been with me through years and years of this never really being a thing for us.. i hope i made you proud this year <3 i love you all so much.”
Other performers at the event included Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter, with British artists Cynthia Erivo, RAYE, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin also joined the line-up.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars also performed a touching tribute to Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating wildfires earlier this year. This year, the ceremony helped to raise funds for those who suffered due to wildfires.