Charli XCX Dominates BRIT Awards as Sabrina Carpenter Sparks Controversy

Charli XCX emerged as the night's early victor, collecting multiple awards including the coveted song of the year for "Guess" — her collaboration with Billie Eilish. The win marked a crowning moment for an artist whose album "Brat" has defined the cultural zeitgeist, even reaching into the realm of American presidential politics when Kamala Harris' campaign adopted its distinctive lime green aesthetic.

"This is cool, I'm really happy that a song about underwear now has a BRIT award," Charli quipped during her acceptance speech, displaying the authenticity that's become her trademark. The win adds to her growing collection, following her first-ever BRIT for songwriter of the year earlier in the week.

The ceremony showcased British music's evolving landscape, perhaps most notably through Rising Star winner Myles Smith — a testament to social media's power in reshaping the industry's traditional pathways to success. The 26-year-old Luton native, whose track "Stargazing" dominated global charts in 2024, represents a new generation of artists who've leveraged digital platforms while maintaining artistic integrity.

"I definitely knew that Stargazing would connect, but to the extent it connected, no," Smith reflected in a pre-show interview. "I'm not gonna sit here and say I saw this song being eight consecutive weeks at No 1 in the US and doing however many hundreds of millions of sales."

But it was American pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter who sparked the night's most heated discussions with an opening performance that pushed the boundaries of pre-watershed television. Donning a red military-inspired blazer dress before transitioning to sparkly lingerie, Carpenter's provocative rendition of "Bed Chem" — complete with suggestive choreography involving performers dressed as the King's Guard — prompted immediate social media reaction and threats of Ofcom complaints.

"As a dad of 11 and 13 year old girls I am fuming," one viewer posted on X, while others celebrated the performance's boldness. "People are threatening to call ofcom after sabrina's brits performance is so funny why does this country hate having fun," another fan countered.

The controversy didn't overshadow Carpenter's later triumph as she collected the global success award — a moment she used to connect with her British audience through characteristically sharp wit. "In a very primarily tea-drinking country, you guys streamed the s**t out of Espresso," she joked, adding, "You really understand my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry."

The ceremony — featuring gender-neutral categories with expanded nominee lists following last year's criticism — reflected the industry's ongoing evolution. From Jade's first solo BRIT for best pop act to The Cure's surprise album nomination — their first since 1993 — the awards painted a picture of British music's rich tapestry, spanning generations and genres.

In a year where TikTok's future hangs in balance and traditional industry structures continue to shift, the BRIT Awards served as a reminder of music's enduring ability to spark conversation, challenge conventions, and unite audiences — even when they're divided over what constitutes appropriate primetime entertainment.