Zoë Kravitz, 36, Attends the 2025 Academy Museum Gala in a Voluminous Ruffled Gown, Causing a Stir - Photos

In a moment that had cameras flashing and tongues wagging, the actress and singer lit up the carpet at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala — but not everyone was dazzled.

The 36-year-old actress and style icon, Zoë Kravitz, made a grand entrance in a striking bronze gown that quickly stole the spotlight — and ignited a firestorm of debate online.

The "Rough Night" star floated onto the carpet in a sculptural masterpiece — a gown drenched in molten metallic hues, featuring voluminous puffed sleeves and layered ruffles that tumbled down her skirt like a waterfall. The design's gathered golden bodice added rich dimension to the ensemble, creating a visual feast under the soft glow of the event's dramatic lighting.

With her short hair styled and hands clasped gracefully, the actress radiated understated poise against a moody, dimly lit backdrop that heightened the gown's dramatic sheen and texture.

A Daring Backless Moment Leaves Viewers Divided

The skirt trailed elegantly behind her, pooling at her feet to complete the dramatic tableau. But while her daring ensemble drew applause for its bold artistry, it also sparked heated debate online — and fast.

On Reddit, fashion aficionados picked apart the look — some in admiration, others in brutal disbelief. One Redditor questioned the gown's functionality, "Is she holding her arms up against her chest to stop the dress from falling down? I don't get the mechanics of this. When you take the dress off the shoulders there's nothing to hold it up [sic]."

Another chimed in with equal skepticism, "She's purposely blocking the front of the gown. good, because the front looks terrible. No but on a serious note, it looks to me like nothing is holding that dress up. maybe she just tries to hold it up with her hands while posing [sic]."

Some commenters were unforgiving, with one writing, "At least on the model you get some semblance of the dress. Zoe's pose is making me think she's trying to keep it from falling off [sic]."

And then the harshest blow of all came when one person commented, "This is dreadful. It's like it was pieced together from the scraps of vintage windbreaker track suits. It looks noisy, sweaty, and I feel like she knows that because she does not look comfortable in it. Her body language says don't look at me [sic]."

Over on another page on Reddit, the confusion continued. One netizen posted, "I want to like this but I don't. Maybe it's this pose and it looks better in other pictures? This pose makes it look like she's trying to keep it from falling off [sic]."

And on Instagram, under a post showcasing the look, one follower quipped, "Ripped off curtains made into a dress." However, among the backlash, one voice stood alone in support, commenting, "Beautiful dress." The gown, from Saint Laurent's latest ready-to-wear collection, had already made its debut on the Paris runway.

Later, Kravitz reposted a story from the brand's creative director, Anthony Vaccarello, hinting that she was well aware of the buzz, for better or worse.

A New Romance, a Past Love Lost

The fashion frenzy comes as the "Gemini" actress's personal life is once again under a microscope. She was recently spotted leaving a Los Angeles music studio with Harry Styles, sparking romance rumors after TMZ reported that the pair "were seen leaving a music studio Thursday night" and speculated that Styles "might have another album on the way."

Their connection dates back to August, when a TikToker saw the two walking arm in arm through a cobblestone street in Rome, captioning the video, "Still processing today's emotion 😭🤌🏽#harrystylesvids #harrystyles #rome #roma #zoekravitz."

According to Page Six, insiders downplayed talk of a casual fling between the two stars:

"It's so hard to date as a celebrity … Harry wouldn't have gone public with Zoë if it wasn't anything. [But] it's very new and fresh and they're just having fun."

The End of a Stylish Love Story

Kravitz's new chapter comes on the heels of her breakup with actor Channing Tatum, ending their engagement after three years together, as sources confirmed.

The 2024 split had fans reacting with a mix of skepticism and sorrow across social media. "They always looked like they were forcing the relationship. Looked weird together. Both beautiful people, jst not together, [sic]" one netizen commented.

Another added, "Dating co-stars never [works] out. Once production is over, it's back to real life." The match never convinced some netizens, as one said, "I always thought they looked awkward together."

One fan pointed to the nine-year age gap, writing, "No surprise there. They were an odd couple & she's too young for him." Rumors of a breakup had swirled after Kravitz was seen without her engagement ring during an outing with "Big Little Lies" co-star Shailene Woodley.

Tatum and Kravitz first met on the set of her directorial debut "Pussy Island," and engagement speculation began in October 2023, when the couple arrived at a Halloween party together. The "Brides of America" actress dressed as Rosemary Woodhouse from "Rosemary's Baby," wearing what looked very much like an engagement ring.

A Bold New Era for Kravitz

As the spotlight returns to the actress both on the carpet and in her personal life, her Academy Museum Gala appearance sends a clear message: she's stepping into a new era marked by bold fashion choices, emotional independence, and a fearless sense of self — even if the internet isn't quite ready for it.