'The pledge of allegiance does not end with hail Satan': Star makes politically charged statement with cloak at VMAs

Nico Tortorella arrives at the 2018 MTV VMAs. (Photo: Getty)
Nico Tortorella arrives at the 2018 MTV VMAs. (Photo: Getty)

Nico Tortorella made a major fashion statement on the 2018 MTV VMAs red carpet Monday night. Literally. The Younger star stepped out at the event in an outfit by a nonbinary fashion brand called THiiiM — and it is difficult to look away once you get a glimpse.

Tortorella wore a multitude of looks. He sported a fishnet tank top tucked into plaid bottoms. But the pièce de résistance was a black-hooded cloak with a lengthy proclamation written on the back. “Not flamable is not a challenge,” it begins. Highlights include, “I will not hide behind the 5th ammendment,” “The president did it is not an excuse,” and “The Pledge of Allegiance does not end with hail Satan.” It’s unclear if the jacket is a dig at the “I really don’t care, do u?” jacket that Melania Trump wore in June, but it’s just as bold.

Tortorella’s coat, designed by THiiiM, has a lot to say. (Photo: Getty)
Tortorella’s coat, designed by THiiiM, has a lot to say. (Photo: Getty)

He accessorized with chunky chains around his neck and topped off the look with a beret.

Like the rest of his outfit, the headwear choice was probably a deliberate move, given its association with political movements and famous activists like Fidel Castro and the Black Panther Party.

Tortorella often makes statements with his attire, usually by wearing dresses to protest gender boundaries. THiiiM is the perfect match for him because its goal is “to rid ourselves of the binary that exists in fashion. The idea that a piece of cloth has a gender is absurd to us. We make it our mission to reject the binary when creating and wearing our garments.”

The actor attended the show with his partner, Bethany Meyers, whose outfit was less politically charged.

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