West was seen making a series of brief comments to Censori, 30, ahead of the viral stunt, which saw the Australian architectural designer drop a floor-length fur coat to unveil her bare body - sheathed in nothing but sheer, skin-toned mesh.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, lip-reader Nicola Hickling claimed West, 47, appeared to issue several commands to Censori in the lead-up to the reveal, including to start “making a scene”.
After Censori shook her head to both statements, West supposedly told her to “drop [the coat] behind you and then turn”, adding, “I got you.”
“All right, let’s go,” Censori replied, according to Hickling’s analysis.
It was then Censori turned her back to the cameras and dropped the floor-length fur to the ground, revealing the completely sheer dress - sans undergarments - beneath it.
West, dressed in a simple all-black outfit, posed for photos with his wife before stepping back, allowing Censori to be snapped solo.
It’s understood the stunt was an attempted recreation of the cover of West’s 2024 album Vultures 1, which featured Censori in nothing but tall boots - and a scrap of fabric partially covering her backside - with her back to the camera.
Vultures 1 was the debut studio album by ¥$, a hip-hop duo comprising West and the singer Ty Dolla Sign. The third single from the album, Carnival - which also featured rappers Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti - received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song: however, West and Ty Dolla Sign ultimately lost to Kendrick Lamar’s viral Drake-diss track Not Like Us.
The jaw-and-coat-dropping moment was just one headline generated by the couple’s viral appearance at the Grammys, with sources claiming they were subsequently escorted from Crypto.com Arena by security guards after supposedly “gate-crashing” the event.
However, those claims were quickly disputed, with insiders countering that West and Censori had always intended to leave after walking the red carpet.
“[West] walked the red carpet and then got in his car and left,” one insider told Page Six.
“He walked the red carpet, got in his car of his own volition and then left ... police and Grammys security never got involved,”TMZalso reported.
While the report says there were no complaints about Censori’s outfit at the event, the stunt has drawn a slew of criticism on social media. In a viral post to X, writer Jean Hatchet accused West of “controlling behaviour”, writing: “Look at Bianca Censori’s startled face and uncertain body language. Kanye West directs her. Look how she moves - it’s how he tells her to.
“This is controlling behaviour and he is humiliating her on the biggest stage he can get.”
Look at Bianca Censori’s startled face and uncertain body language. Kanye West directs her. Look how she moves - it’s how he tells her to.
This is controlling behaviour and he is humiliating her on the biggest stage he can get - and one he had to invade. He’s not mad. This is… pic.twitter.com/koKnqt9Za5
West later took to Instagram to gush about his wife, sharing a since-deleted post of Censori in her barely-there ensemble with the caption: “Custom Couture Grammy dress for the most beautiful woman ever My love my best friend My wife [sic].”
He also shared a since-deleted snap of Lamar, the night’s biggest winner, with the caption “Gemini season” - referencing their shared astrological sign.
West has received 24 Grammy Awards over the course of his career but failed to take home a 25th on Sunday after losing to Kendrick Lamar in the Best Rap Song category.
The 47-year-old and Censori, who was born in Melbourne, tied the knot in December 2022 - a month after West’s divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalised. West and Kardashian, who married in 2014, share four children together: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.
The “naked dress” reveal marked West and Censori’s first red carpet appearance together since their nuptials more than two years prior.