Christina Aguilera Reflects on the Controversy Surrounding Her 2002 Hit ‘Dirrty’: ‘It Was an Empowering Moment for Me’
By Website Content Manager
The pop star joined Halle Berry at the Bare It All event, which spotlighted the efforts of organizations Playground and Joylux.
Christina Aguilera is standing firm in her truth.
At 44, the singer and co-founder of Playground reflected on a defining moment in her career during the Bare It All event on Monday, June 9. Speaking during a fireside chat moderated by Tamsen Fadal—and joined by actress Halle Berry—Aguilera opened up about the empowerment she felt after releasing her 2002 single “Dirrty.”
“When I put out my album Stripped, especially the track ‘Dirrty’, I got a lot of pushback,” she shared. “But for me, it was about embracing my body and expressing myself freely—refusing to conform to this artificial, label-controlled version of a pop star that I never truly was.”
She continued, “It was eye-opening to hear people tell me I shouldn’t express myself that way, or that I didn’t have the right to speak up for my own body.”
Aguilera, also known for her empowering anthem “Beautiful,” added that the criticism led her to question the reasoning behind such resistance—sparking a deeper curiosity about societal expectations and double standards.
“What’s the deeper conversation here?” Christina Aguilera asked during the panel. “What’s going on in people’s lives—or what’s missing from them—that makes it so difficult to accept women exploring and embracing their own bodies?”
She went on to explain that, as time passed, she became more curious and informed. Now a mother, Aguilera said it’s crucial that her daughter grows up empowered and unafraid to ask questions or challenge societal norms.
Aguilera shares 16-year-old Max Liron with her ex-husband Jordan Bratman and 10-year-old Summer Rain with her fiancé, Matt Rutler.
Back in a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, the pop star revealed that she still owns the famous chaps from her “Dirrty” music video.
“We definitely saved that outfit. I just hope it’s held up after all these years,” she said at the time. “But yes, it’s somewhere safe in storage.”
Reflecting on the controversy surrounding the bold outfit, Aguilera admitted that the criticism only made her enjoy it more.
“Honestly, the more backlash I got for it, the more fun I had wearing it,” she said. “Those chaps were legendary. It was a moment — and it still is! I love seeing people dress up in their own versions for Halloween. It always excites me to see how they reimagine the look.”