Olivia Culpo has broken her silence over the backlash to her ‘traditional and conservative’ wedding gown one month after her nuptials to Christian McCaffrey.
Culpo, 32, who along with NFL star McCaffrey, 28, branded an influencer ‘evil’ for branding her Dolce & Gabbana dress as ‘nothing’, was roundly criticized for her high-necked ensemble and a Vogue Interview in which she revealed her husband found her ‘most beautiful when’s she wearing something timeless, covered and elegant.’
Culpo told People: ‘I was definitely very surprised. I feel like I personally like to give people the benefit of the doubt. And unfortunately, I feel like the words I said were spun out of context to fit an agenda that I did not have.
‘I loved every part of my wedding because I love my husband and the people we got to celebrate that day with The choices that I made are because I wanted to feel like they’re choices I could be proud of in 50 years. And that’s it.’
She said of choosing the dress: ‘I wanted to feel like myself in every sense of the word,. And I think that that’s where my decision to be more pared down came in.
Olivia Culpo has broken her silence over the backlash to her ‘traditional and conservative’ wedding gown one month after her nuptials to Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey, 28, came to the defense of his wife, Olivia Culpo, 32, after a style influencer labeled her Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress as ‘nothing’ and ‘absence of personality’; seen in 2023 in L.A.
‘Stylistically I had a vision. Stylistically, I felt like I was making a decision that was going to stand the test of time, and that’s it. I felt very comfortable in it, for what it’s worth. I was on the water and there was a very nice breeze.’
She previously said of the gown: ‘I didn’t want it to exude sex in any way, shape or form.’
Earlier this month McCaffrey came to the defense of his wife after a style influencer labeled her Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress as ‘nothing’ and the ‘absence of personality.’
The NFL star- who tied the knot with the former Miss Universe winner in Rhode Island – jumped to the comment section of Kennedy Bingham’s Instagram video where she shared her opinion of the gown.
‘What an evil thing to post online,’ the San Francisco 49ers running back penned. ‘I hope you can find joy and peace in the world, the way my beautiful wife does.’
However, Bingham responded to the sports star and typed, ‘@christianmccaffrey So what’s evil is pointing out the potential internalized misogyny behind her reasoning…’
‘Your (imo) patriarchal comment, and the racist/ homophobic/fatphobic history of the designers she worked with?’
In the comment section of the same reel uploaded to the influencer’s TikTok page, Olivia herself shared her thoughts, also clapping back at Kennedy’s criticism.
‘Wow what an absolutely evil person you are. I hope no one ever tears you apart in this way because it’s extremely hurtful. I love this dress and it was everything I ever wanted and more,’ the model penned.
Culpo told People : ‘I was definitely very surprised. I feel like I personally like to give people the benefit of the doubt. And unfortunately, I feel like the words I said were spun out of context to fit an agenda that I did not have – pictured 2023
Bingham uploaded a screenshot of Culpo’s response to her own Instagram stories, as well as her reply.
‘So we aren’t going to acknowledge how your words come across to other people or the background of the designers that you’re supporting?’
Kennedy also wrote additional text over the image and added, ‘Why do they keep using the word evil.’
‘Like D&G calling IVF babies synthetic wasn’t evil enough for you, but me talking about your wedding dress crosses the line?’ the influencer asked.
The media personality – who currently boasts nearly 100k followers – kicked off the nearly six-minute clip by saying, ‘I have been a bridal creator for almost four years now, and I have never said this before. But I do not like this wedding dress.’
She previously said of the gown: ‘I didn’t want it to exude sex in any way, shape or form’
She explained that if she were just looking at the dress, ‘I would see a beautiful bride and a beautiful, simple, elegant dress.’
However, Bingham added, ‘But it’s the stuff surrounding the dress that leaves kind of a bitter after taste.’
Kennedy then referenced to Olivia’s recent interview with Vogue where she talked about the wedding gown, and explained she ‘didn’t want it to exude sex in any way, shape, or form.’
‘There is nothing wrong with wanting a modest wedding dress, or just modest attire in general,’ she continued, but then added Culpo ‘pushed this idea of what she thinks all brides should look like.’
‘…So to treat this as a sexless design is really odd to me because both, it is your choice if you do not want to exude sex in this gown, but also if people want to sexualize you, it is not your fault if they do that.’
‘Her two statements next to each other are a very eloquent way of saying you are asking for whatever you are dressed as, which is an extremely harmful way of thinking.’
Earlier this month McCaffrey came to the defense of his wife after a style influencer labeled her Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress as ‘nothing’ and the ‘absence of personality’
‘Wow what an absolutely evil person you are. I hope no one ever tears you apart in this way because it’s extremely hurtful. I love this dress and it was everything I ever wanted and more,’ the model penned
‘There is nothing wrong with wanting a modest wedding dress, or just modest attire in general,’ she continued, but then added Culpo ‘pushed this idea of what she thinks all brides should look like’
Bingham then said she felt it was ‘weird’ how Culpo ‘talks about coverage, especially as someone in her day-to-day life is someone who is not exactly a modest dresser.’
‘She even says her husband thinks she’s the most beautiful when she is timeless, covered and elegant. I just think the usage of the word “covered” is so icky because you are not covered in day-to-day life.’
‘And also why is he thinking that you are the most beautiful when you are covered? That’s just such an odd thing,’ Kennedy said.
She also said it was ‘odd’ for Culpo to market a ‘conservative agenda’ and began to direct attention back to the wedding gown.
‘There is no personality in this dress,’ and added, ‘This is just nothing. It is the absence of personality.
In conclusion, Kennedy said, ‘It’s very clear this was not a wedding. This was a conservative campaign, and it wasn’t even well done…’
While talking with Vogue, Olivia opened up about her nuptials as well as her wedding gown designed by Italian brand, Dolce & Gabbana. ‘I had a very clear idea of what I wanted for my ceremony dress.’
‘I have worked with Dolce & Gabbana for years, so it was incredibly special to collaborate with Stefano [Gabbana], Domenico [Dolce], and the exceptional design and atelier team.’
The crepe ball gown contained long sleeves, a full skirt, a train and also a row of buttons on the back that secured the dress.
A 16-foot sheer veil was added on top of her head to complete the look and had an embroidered, lace trim.
‘I didn’t want it to exude sex in any way, shape, or form,’ Culpo said of the wedding dress. ‘I wanted it to feel effortless and as if it’s complementing me, not overpowering me. There’s so much beauty and simplicity.’
‘I never felt more beautiful than when I was in my ceremony dress and under my veil- I really wanted the simplicity of each component to harmonize perfectly.’
Over the past weekend, Olivia and Christian said ‘I do’ at a chapel located at the historic Ocean House Resort in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
Upon reflection of the ceremony that took place in front of their close family and friends, the beauty expressed, ‘Even with so many people in the room, it felt like it was just Christian and I.’
For the reception, the star wore a strapless, white minidress with a sheer, caged hooped skirt for a unique flare. It was paired with opera-length white gloves and closed-toed white heels.
