Bebe Rexha has recalled how Taylor Swift reached out during her 2019 Grammys dress controversy, making her feel supported when few others did.
Bebe Rexha has opened up about Taylor Swift’s kindness during one of the most difficult moments of her career, recalling how the pop superstar made her feel included when she struggled to find a designer willing to dress her for the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Speaking to E! News at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27, Rexha reflected on Swift’s support during the controversy, which drew renewed attention to the fashion industry’s treatment of women of different body sizes.
“I remember when I had that whole Grammys situation when I couldn’t find a dress and she reached out to me because we’re the same age, and I thought that was really, really kind of her,” Rexha recalled.
The singer explained that Swift’s gesture stood out because relatively few people had offered their support at the time.
“Nobody really reached out,” Rexha said. “Some people did, but for her at such a high level to make me feel like I belonged was really, really nice.”
Bebe Rexha speaks out against fashion industry
Rexha’s struggle to find a designer for the 2019 Grammy Awards became a public controversy after she revealed that several fashion houses had declined to dress her because of her size.
The singer, who was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the ceremony, addressed the issue in an Instagram video that was subsequently deleted.
Expressing her frustration with the industry’s expectations surrounding body size, Rexha criticised designers who had refused to work with her and said she did not want to wear their dresses.
Her comments sparked a wider conversation about body inclusivity and the pressure placed on female performers to conform to restrictive fashion standards.
Designer August Getty subsequently offered to create a gown for the singer, publicly expressing his support and emphasising that women of every size deserved to feel beautiful.
“You are beautiful! Every woman of every size is beautiful! Just let me know when I should start sketching,” Getty wrote in response to the controversy.
His message offered Rexha an alternative after her experience with designers who had turned her away.
Taylor Swift’s gesture left a lasting impression
Swift’s decision to reach out to Rexha during that period clearly made a lasting impression on the singer.
For Rexha, the significance of the gesture extended beyond the fashion industry. She particularly appreciated that Swift, despite her own standing in the music business, took the time to make a fellow artist feel welcome during a challenging experience.
Rexha’s latest comments have brought the moment back into the spotlight, highlighting how support from fellow musicians can resonate with artists facing professional setbacks.
Swift was also recognised at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors. The award celebrated artists whose work behind the camera has contributed to the development and storytelling of music videos.
The honour added another notable moment to Swift’s relationship with the VMAs, while Rexha’s recollection offered a reminder of a more personal gesture that had resonated with her years earlier.
For Rexha, the memory of Swift reaching out in 2019 remains an example of how a small act of kindness from a fellow artist can make someone feel that they belong.