Anthony Kiedis has faced backlash from fans after being seen sporting high-end Cradle of Filth apparel. Images posted on an Instagram fan page captured the moment.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist appeared in Cradle of Filth sweatpants and a hoodie, both designed with exaggerated shoulder pads. The outfit comes from a collaboration between the band and luxury fashion house Vetements. His look sparked debate among fans, many questioning whether Kiedis is actually familiar with the band’s music. As one Cradle of Filth fan wrote: “Do you even know any Cradle of Filth songs beyond Nymphetamine or her ghost in the fog lmao?”
Some commenters focused less on cost and more on the style itself. One remarked, “It’s ugly, it doesn’t matter how expensive this is,” while another joked, “I’m sure he’s a huge Cradle of Filth fan.”
Kiedis wore the pieces during a recent benefit event for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, quickly making his fashion choice a talking point among followers of the band. The collaboration reflects a growing intersection between underground metal aesthetics and luxury fashion.
According to Spectrum FM, the designer sweatsuit was priced around $2,500 to $2,600—an unusually steep cost for what is typically standard band merchandise. The Vetements x Cradle of Filth line blends the band’s extreme-metal imagery with upscale design.
Loudwire pointed out that the collection includes a couture-style reinterpretation of Cradle of Filth’s infamous “vestal masturbation shirt,” reimagined through a luxury lens. The sweatsuit illustrates how the partnership elevates recognizable band visuals through high-end materials and craftsmanship, bringing metal-inspired fashion into the luxury market.
This collaboration highlights the broader trend of high-fashion labels borrowing from alternative and metal subcultures. Such partnerships both validate these aesthetics within designer circles and introduce metal iconography to luxury consumers.
The discourse around Kiedis’ outfit underscores ongoing tensions about authenticity and gatekeeping in metal communities, with longtime fans questioning whether these high-fashion collaborations undermine the genre’s underground roots.
