Tyla, the 23-year-old singer, has sparked controversy following her recent remarks regarding her outfit at Coachella. During the festival’s opening weekend on April 11, she made her debut performance and returned the following weekend on April 18, captivating her audience with her stage presence.
On April 20, a tweet from a fan account on the social media platform X showcased her Coachella look alongside a famous outfit worn by Britney Spears at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. The tweet suggested that Tyla’s outfit was clearly inspired by the pop icon. However, Tyla responded to this claim, stating:
“Love her but I just thought the outfit was fly…no inspo”
This response led to a wave of backlash, with critics accusing her of failing to acknowledge Britney’s influence. One user commented, “this is a horrible PR move,”while another remarked, “It’s literally the same damn thing… the better PR move would have been to credit her.”Various users echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that an acknowledgment of inspiration would have been more favorable.
“She should’ve just pretended it was and kept it pushing,”was another critique shared online.
“She likes being dragged at this point lol,”joked one individual.
Some commentators speculated whether Tyla’s stylist was aware of the outfit’s resemblance to Britney’s iconic look. One user urged, “Please talk with your stylist they were inspired for sure,”suggesting that the stylist might deserve some credit for the similarity.
“Well, somebody was inspired, maybe not her but most probably her stylist because girl…,”another netizen noted.
Conversely, several defenders of Tyla argued that not every outfit that appears similar has to stem from direct inspiration. One user remarked, “So if someone wears something once, whoever else wears it, until the end of time, is just biting their style?”while another asserted, “Not everything has to be an inspiration from decades ago, and that’s okay.”
Analyzing Tyla’s Coachella Outfit from the Second Weekend
On the Friday of the second weekend, Tyla flaunted a striking outfit featuring a green bra top adorned with purple floral patterns, paired with low-rise blue denim shorts embellished with beads, safety pins, and matching green fringes. Her accessories included silver body chains with sparkling teardrop pendants that complemented her navel piercing.
Footwear-wise, Tyla initially chose zebra print ankle boots but later switched to stylish knee-high boots as part of her performance ensemble. While some fans anticipated that her look was a homage to Britney Spears, major publications like Teen Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Complex highlighted the similarities.
Britney Spears, remembered for her unforgettable performance at the 2001 VMAs, wore a green bra top with an ornamented center and low-rise jean shorts enhanced with peacock blue fabric. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of her outfit was the albino python draped around her neck during the performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U.”
Despite the unique elements in both performers’ outfits, Tyla’s denial of any inspiration from Britney sparked a broader debate across social media, showcasing the intense scrutiny that modern artists face regarding their fashion choices.