Chappell Roan Experienced a Major Wardrobe Malfunction Before Her SNL Performance

 Published on December 16, 2024 05:08PM EST

Chappell Roan performs on 'Saturday Night Live.'. Photo: 

Will Heath/NBC via Getty

Chappell Roan's Saturday Night Live performance in November nearly faced a major hiccup due to an unexpected wardrobe malfunction just moments before going on stage.

In a recent interview with Canadian journalist Nardwuar on his YouTube channel (posted December 15), Roan, 26, revealed that her performance of her hit Pink Pony Club was almost derailed when her dress tore at the last minute.

“It ripped all the way down the back right before I walked on stage,” Roan explained. “I had to have SNL’s in-house seamstress sew me into the dress because it ripped all the way down.”

Nardwuar followed up by asking about her wardrobe upkeep. “After you use the dress, is there a bit of sweat sometimes? Do you have to clean it, or how does that work?” he inquired. Roan candidly replied, “They smell crazy, yeah. I don't know if I clean it. I think I just put it in a bag and put it back on the rack.”

For her SNL performance, Roan wore a sparkling, form-fitting white-jeweled floor-length gown, complemented by her signature red curls and dramatic drag-inspired makeup. She paired her look with a voluminous red wig with silver streaks, bold dark eyes, and a jeweled spider brooch on her lapel and matching spider bracelet, referencing the Halloween season just days prior.

Roan also debuted a new country-inspired track titled The Giver during her second performance of the night, sporting a pink-and-white gingham bralette with lapels and a tie, matching gingham shorts, and cowboy boots. Her band and backing singers wore similarly styled, country-themed outfits.

Nardwuar also brought up whether Roan reused outfits, to which she shared, “I would love to, but my stylist is like, we gotta keep it moving.”

Roan has been celebrated for her bold and theatrical fashion choices, drawing from drag, horror movies, theater, and more. At the Governors Ball festival in June, she even appeared as a green-painted Statue of Liberty.

One standout look included a promo outfit for her SNL appearance—a striking blue and green burlesque-inspired look created by Project Runway alum Gunnar Deatherage. Featuring dragonfly wings and a headpiece extending wide, the elaborate design drew attention for its detailed construction. Deatherage later shared on TikTok and Instagram that the look was inspired by 1900s-era burlesque dancers.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Deatherage shared insights into crafting the elaborate outfit. “It’s been such a gift, honestly, to create such cool, complex things and then let so many people see them,” he said.

Although the burlesque-inspired look was initially intended for a music festival performance, Deatherage admitted its design took a turn as it came together. “As we kept building and the look kept evolving and getting cooler and more complex, it was apparent that this look needed to be seen in a more stationary moment, rather than jumping around on stage,” Deatherage explained. “Because the last thing we wanted to do was prohibit Chappell from being able to be Chappell on stage—prohibit the magic.”