Rose McGowan Explains Scandalous VMAs Fashion Moment That Led To 'Global Media Shaming'

KEY POINTS

Rose McGowan was making a statement when she attended the 1998 VMAs in a see-through dress
She said the event had been her first big public appearance after she was sexually assaulted
McGowan said she doesn't regret it despite the "global media shaming" she received at the time

Rose McGowan recalled her infamous MTV Video Music Awards fashion moment in 1998 and explained why she did it.

With the 2020 VMAs set to be held in New York this Sunday, McGowan opened up to Yahoo Entertainment about the scandalous outfit she wore when she graced the event more than two decades ago. She received massive backlash for wearing a see-through chainmail dress that left almost nothing to the imagination.

However, the "Planet Terror" star said that the 1998 VMAs had been her first public appearance after being sexually assaulted and she wanted to make a statement.

"I just felt like, ‘Oh Hollywood, would you want a body just that you can use and throw away? Then I've got one for you!’ It was like at the end of 'Gladiator' when he comes out and he's like, ‘Are you not entertained?'" said McGowan, who alleged that Harvey Weinstein raped her in 1997.

"And if you look at me, I did it with power. I didn't do it with my hand on my hip to be sexy," she continued. "Most of the women that are dressed like that on the red carpet, it's a calculated, sexy move to turn people on. Mine was like, ‘I’m gonna f--k with your brain. I'm going to blow your brain up.’ And nobody had done it."

Despite having her own reasons for wearing the dress, McGowan admitted that when she looks back at her VMAs fashion moment, she has mixed feelings. But ultimately, she doesn't regret doing it.

"It was kind of hard. I hadn't really ever dealt with global media shaming. But it prepared me for later on it happening to me a whole bunch," she said.

"I'm like, ‘Why did I do that?’ I've had to look at that. You know, when you do stuff sometimes on instinct and in a mood, like when a mood overtakes you on, you analyze what it was that brought you to that mood or that choice," McGowan explained. "So, I've certainly had a lot of time to analyze and I'm looking at the timeline. But I completely understand why I did what I did.”

Meanwhile, McGowan recently called out Alyssa Milano for her "appalling behavior" on set during their days filming "Charmed." She also accused Milano of appropriating the #MeToo movement amid their feud over politics.