Tracee Ellis Ross' Oscar Dress Has Fans Worried About A Wardrobe Malfunction

With a dynamic personality and incredible sense of style, Tracee Ellis Ross is always one to watch when awards season rolls in. Her choice of fashion for the 2022 Academy Awards, however, definitely kept fans on their toes throughout the event. 

This isn't the first time Ross has been cautiously recognized for her stellar ensemble choices, even joining the ranks of the best-dressed stars at the 2020 Emmys in an exhilaratingly risqué dress that delighted fans. She often utilizes her Instagram to share her stunning outfits, iconic photoshoots, behind-the-scenes moments, and fun fashion throwbacks with those who love her most. 

Ross consistently opens up about her love of curating and embodying style. "[Sharing my outfits] is a way to put joy in action for me," she explained to Harper's Bazaar in 2021. "When I get dressed, I think to myself, 'Ah, I like her, I remember her!'" This exciting mentality surely inspired her Oscars look, so let's take a look at what fans were so concerned about.

Tracee Ellis Ross arrived at the 2022 Academy Awards with a look that immediately turned heads. The "Black-ish" star stunned in a vibrant red Carolina Herrera dress that mimicked a mermaid fit with an extremely open — nearly non-existent — neckline. "I'm serving clavicle," she boasted to Access Hollywood on the red carpet.

The va-va-voom nature of the dress sent fans to voice their concerns on Twitter. "I love Tracee Ellis Ross, but her dress makes me nervous," one fan wrote on Twitter. They continued, "I'm afraid [her] boob is about to pop out." Others made light of the potentially scandalous support of the dress. Someone posted, "give an oscar to tracee ellis ross' boob tape," as another agreed with a "best supporting" quip.

She paired the ensemble with matching red Louboutin heels and a chic diamond necklace. Her pop of a red lip and tight bun added just the right amount of class to a dress with such sex appeal. Ross confidently put faith in the tape, sharing a joyous series of photos on Instagram to celebrate the look, and she will surely keep wowing with her fashion choices at future events.

Alas, what would an awards show be without at least one wardrobe malfunction?

Per Daily Mail, onlookers were equally worried about the daring neckline on tennis superstar Venus Williams' custom Elie Saab gown. "I know exactly how I'd feel in this dress. Ever so slightly clammy and panicked and counting down the minutes until I could get home, rip it off and put a tracksuit on. See also Venus Williams's gown," one concerned Twitter user penned. Meanwhile, another wrote "...and whoaaaa @Venuseswilliams that dress, sis! Can we say #cleavage !!! Lol! Looking fab!!! A star on the court and off!!!"

Still, some users claim that the athlete's dress did eventually give way under pressure — right about the same time that Will Smith awkwardly accepted his award for Best Actor and apologized to "the Academy" and his "fellow nominees" for striking comedian Chris Rock in the face, per Variety. "#Oscars2022 Any1 else notice the wardrobe malfunction during will smith's speech? Somebody should've paid attention 2 @Venuseswilliams dress/chest area..There was a nipple slip on live tv. @ABCNetwork did their best to hide it but it was noticeable,"  one user wrote. Meanwhile, another tweeted "I guess we're not gonna talk about Venus Williams' dress almost falling off during Will's acceptance speech? #Oscars." Ruh-roh.

Speaking of wardrobe malfunctions, we would be completely remiss if we didn't at least touch on the wardrobe malfunction of all wardrobe malfunctions... so let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

The year was 2004. The Carolina Panthers were playing the New England Patriots at the Super Bowl. Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were performing together on stage for the halftime show. Life was good. And then out of nowhere, the former boy bander ripped a piece of fabric from Jackson's breast accidentally leaving her bare breast exposed where another piece of fabric was supposed to be strategically placed. Cue the backlash. 

During a 2006 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" host Oprah Winfrey said that in the weeks and months following the wardrobe malfunction CBS was fined $550,000, the NFL was ordered to repay the $10 million they were paid by the halftime sponsor, and the FCC fielded a staggering 500,000 complaints. But that's not all — Jackson's career suffered too. "All the emphasis was put on me. Not on Justin," Jackson lamented in the bombshell sit-down interview with Oprah — a sentiment Justin appeared to somewhat agree with.  "If you consider it 50-50, then I probably got 10 percent of the blame," Timberlake confessed in his own 2006 interview with MTV. "I think America is harsher on women. I think America is unfairly harsh on ethnic people."