Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix | Source: Getty Images
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara turned heads on the red carpet but it was Mara’s show-stopping ensemble that sparked a heated debate online.
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara made a stunning appearance at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19. The couple graced the red carpet with undeniable charm, showcasing their fashion flair for all to see.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix attend The Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Phoenix, 49, donned a classic suit complemented by a stylish bowtie, exuding sophistication and class. Meanwhile, Mara, 39, captured attention in a vintage Givenchy gown that was as unique as it was bold.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix attend The Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
As she posed for the cameras, Phoenix showed his devotion. He bent down to smooth out the
train of her gown
with meticulous care, ensuring every detail was perfect.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix attend The Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
As photos of the couple made rounds online, Mara’s daring fashion choice sparked a wave of reactions. Critics took to the internet to express their opinions, with some
labeling
her outfit a
“nightgown.”
Rooney Mara at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Others questioned its appropriateness for such a prestigious event.
“It looks like she’s wearing a curtain and it’s see-through. Thank God she has underwear on,”
one user
wrote
. Another
chimed in
with,
“Even my grandma would not wear Rooney’s slip, sorry.”
The critiques didn’t stop there; one harsh assessment
described
the ensemble as
“a nightgown with granny panties.”
Another user bluntly
stated
that it resembled
“adult diapers”
and
“somebody’s curtain.”
A fan comment dated October 20, 2024 | Source: Instagram/extratv
The online discourse didn’t shy away from being observant either. Some users noted that the gown appeared to add visual weight,
commenting
,
“It made her look bigger than what she is.”
Another
called
the dress and pants
“silly.”
As the critiques piled up, one person even
asked
,
“Who did this to her????[sic]”
Amidst the criticism, others appreciated Mara’s distinctive style.
“Rooney, what a lady! So talented!”
exclaimed
one admirer, while another
chimed in
with,
“They both look amazing.”
A third fan
declared
Mara’s look as
“perfection,”
and someone else sweetly
noted
,
“The look was definitely giving Greek goddess ❤️.”
A fan comment dated October 20, 2024 | Source: Instagram/fashionbombdaily
While Mara’s sheer
Givenchy couture gown
and white hot pants might seem simple at first, they’re rich in fashion history. This stunning gown comes from John Galliano’s Fall 1996 couture collection for Givenchy.
This collection is famous for bringing the empire waist silhouette back into the spotlight, making it a significant moment in fashion history.
Rooney Mara at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Mara took a refreshing approach to styling the dress. Instead of following the original runway look, which included an elaborate beaded headdress and embellished white briefs, she kept things minimalist. She slicked her hair back into a chic bun and paired the look with simple bottoms and elegant ankle-strap sandals.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix attend The Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
This isn’t the first time Phoenix and Mara have grabbed people’s attention. On September 2, the Hollywood couple
were spotted out during the prestigious 81st Venice International Film Festival in Italy
.
A photo of the duo, which shows Mara seemingly cradling their newborn in her arms, garnered varied responses from the public, with some expressing surprise at the fact that the couple had another baby.
User comment about Rooney Mara, posted on September 2, 2024 | Source: X/@DominatorMSD
Dressed casually for their outing, the “Joker” star sported a black T-shirt, black pants, sneakers, and stylish glasses. Mara, who was in full mom mode with her and Phoenix’s baby nestled safely in one arm under a gray blanket sling, donned blue jeans, a long coat, ballet flats, and black shades.
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara spotted out with their newborn during the 81st Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy on September 2, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Online observers were taken aback by the family’s appearance. In the comment section of a Reddit post about the couple’s Venice Film attendance, one user
expressed
,
“Thank you to this post for reminding me that Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara are a couple.”
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix at the 92nd Oscars in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
This comment was made even though Mara and Phoenix have been an item for quite some time now, since
meeting on the set
of “Her” in 2012. The pair then got privately engaged in 2019.
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara at the premiere of “Joker” in Hollywood, California on September 28, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
That same year (2019), Mara’s fiancé shared some words about how their relationship came to be in a Vanity Fair interview. “She’s the only girl I ever looked up on the internet. We were just friends, email friends. I’d never done that. Never looked up a girl online,”
divulged
Phoenix.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix at the 92nd Oscars in Hollywood, California on February 9, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
Some people weren’t even aware that Mara and Phoenix had another child.
“Did Joaquin and Rooney have another kid? I didn’t think River was born that recently but time gets away from me,”
penned
an onlooker.
“Is there a baby or broken arm under Rooney Mara’s blanket? Cuz it doesn’t look [like] ‘fashion’ as much as [it looks] awkward,”
mentioned
an observer. An X user
pondered
,
“Is that [a] baby she’s hiding from [the] paparazzi?”
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix at Michael Muller’s HEAVEN event in Los Angeles, California on January 5, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
“Rooney just had a second baby,”
stated
a social media user. Chiming in with another comment about the newborn, another user
observed
,
“Looks like Rooney is holding their new baby.”
Rooney Mara at the photocall for “La Cocina” during the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany on February 16, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Joaquin Phoenix
and Mara welcomed their second baby after the actress
debuted her baby bump
at the premiere of “La Cocina” during the Berlin Film Festival, which took place in February. Pictures show the star dressed in a long black dress and cradling her pregnant belly as she posed for the cameras.
Rooney Mara at the premiere for “La Cocina” during the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany on February 16, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Mara’s pregnancy reveal came four years after she and
Joaquin Phoenix
welcomed their firstborn
son, River, in 2020. The little boy is named after his father’s late brother, who passed away in 1993.
River Phoenix (Joaquin Phoenix’s late brother) posing during a portrait session in Los Angeles, California in 1988. | Source: Getty Images
After River was born, Mara shared some candid reflections about her life as a then-new mom in an open letter that was part of a Mother’s Day campaign by Farm Sanctuary.
Rooney Mara | Source: Getty Images
Her words, which were shared with People magazine,
read
, “As a new mom, Mother’s Day has taken on a special meaning this year. Raising our baby, River, has opened my heart to a whole new life filled with hope and more determination than ever to create a kinder and more sustainable world.”