We have seen some thangs out here in these fashion streets, especially when it comes to entertainers. Pharrell and his hats. (See also: Erykah Badu.) Janelle Monae and her vagina pants. Yung Joc (and now, Usher) and his hair. Lauryn Hill and... however many layers she feels like wearing on any given day. (See also: Erykah Badu.)
When it comes to style, there’s seemingly no end to the risks famous folks are willing to take—and why not? They’ve got money, fame, more boredom than we likely realize and more reasons than most to keep switching up their looks. Because, relevance.
All that diplomacy aside, something very unexpected appeared during halftime at the Alabama vs. Clemson National Championship Game on Monday night—and that something was Lil Wayne. Joining rock band Imagine Dragons onstage, Tha Carter was wearing what appeared to be (wait for it) a multicolored full-length faux fur coat and patterned, oversized sunglasses with a fedora perched atop his brightly-dyed red and pink locs.
As if that getup weren’t enough, it was all worn over a vividly airbrushed t-shirt paired with skintight red vinyl pants and massive, over-the-knee, fur-trimmed, Michelin Man-style black boots. Oh, and fingerless gloves and a striped scarf. You know, just to make sure it popped.
If you’re wondering why I referenced Willy Wonka, it’s because dude looked like an Everlasting Gobstopper. It was, in short, a look. A profoundly confusing one—which is saying a lot, considering some of the “Swag Surfin’” rapper’s prior ‘fits. In fact, it was so distracting, I’m not sure anyone remembers who won the game (okay, it was Clemson).
But if Dwayne’s goal was to get us talking, he certainly succeeded. You can always depend on social media for an honest fashion critique, and Twitter is reliably the most brutal critic around, especially when it comes to bitingly accurate analogies.
Of course, there were also many, many, many comparisons to E.T. I’ve admittedly been known to make at least one similar quip about the “I’m Me” singer, given some of his recent sartorial choices. (It was just that shawl he wore over his head at the BET Awards, y’all. I swear). But this tweet has pretty much cemented that image in my head for good.
In the infamous words of the Atlanta Voice, “What happen? Why it happen? Can it happen again?” I have no idea who’s styling Lil Wayne these days (and genuinely hope he’s not paying someone to make him look like this), but God, I hope they keep it up. The chuckles I’ve gotten reading these tweets are more effective than any “New Year, New You” ab challenge I’ve attempted, and I’m trying to be snatched by summer.
So keep the kooky coming, Carter. The internet is here for you.
Correction: 1/8/19, 2:14 p.m. EST: An earlier version of this post mistakenly identified Santa Clara, Calif. as the location of the Auburn vs. Clemson halftime show. While the game took place in Santa Clara, sources tell us the performance was actually live-streamed from San Francisco, Calif. This does not change the ridiculousness of Lil Wayne’s stagewear.