Jenny McCarthy Reminisces On That Time She Accidentally Wore Her Valentino Oscars Dress Backwards
At least she can laugh about it now!


Jenny McCarthy only went to the Oscars once—and apparently, she made a major faux pas while she was there.
The Masked Singer judge appeared on Live with Kelly and Mark on Thursday, where she discussed the 1997 incident. "The funny thing is, I went to the Oscars once. They invited me when I was the It Girl. They invite the It Girl each year. I only was invited once, obviously," McCarthy told the hosts. "I was literally working at a Polish grocery store a year and a half prior to me going to the Oscars, so I just didn’t know much. They put me in a Valentino dress—I didn't know I wore the dress backwards."
At that point, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos were both shocked, asking what McCarthy meant about the backward dress. And apparently, she found out from Valentino Garavani himself that she was wearing it the wrong way.
Still, wearing something backward can be a statement of its own, right? Ripa defended McCarthy's inadvertent style choice, saying, "If that's the back of the dress, I mean, it should be the front of the dress."
Jenny McCarthy in Valentino at the 1997 Oscars
McCarthy also discussed the faux pas with Us Weekly, telling the outlet "I just remember dying a little bit … Needless to say, I've never been dressed by Valentino again." But as Ripa told the actress, the mistake is nothing to be embarrassed of—and McCarthy still looked every bit the It Girl.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Meghan is a freelance news writer at Marie Claire. Her work has also appeared in Bustle, Refinery29, Popsugar, and other outlets. When she isn't writing, Meghan runs a community for plus-size people in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina.
-
What to Know About the Cast of 'Resident Playbook,' Which Is Sure to Be Your Next Medical Drama Obsession
The spinoff of the hit K-drama 'Hospital Playlist' features several young actors as first-year OB-GYN residents.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Duchess Sophie Stepped Up to Represent King Charles at Event Amid Calls for King Charles to "Slow Down"
The Duchess of Edinburgh filled in for The King at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
By Kristin Contino
-
See the Top-Scoring WNBA Draft Looks
This year's rookie class came to win.
By Halie LeSavage
-
Taylor Swift's Ex Just Teased His Interest in Playing the Next James Bond at 2025 Oscars
With speculation swirling about who could take over the iconic role, Joe Alywn told a red carpet reporter how he felt about playing the character.
By Lia Beck
-
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet Kiss and Snap Selfies During Loved-Up Oscars Date Night
The duo finished out awards season on a high note.
By Kristin Contino
-
Ariana Grande Teases a New Album Drop on Oscars Red Carpet: "Keep Your Eyes Peeled"
"The next step is...It means it must come out."
By Kristin Contino
-
Timothée Chalamet Held Hands With Someone Other Than Kylie Jenner on the Oscars 2025 Red Carpet—Here's Who He Brought With Him
Looks like Timmy's got two dates.
By Lia Beck
-
Jeff Goldblum Teases How Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Will "Devastate" Fans in Wicked Sequel
"I don't want to be a tattletale or a spoiler."
By Kristin Contino
-
How Zendaya’s 2015 Oscars Look Paved the Way for The CROWN Act
"That one instance went on to actually change the way Black people’s hair was accepted in schools and the workplace."
By Kayleigh Roberts
-
Halle Berry Is "Eternally Miffed" She's the Only Black Woman to Win the Best Actress Oscar
"I'm continually saddened by that year after year."
By Amy Mackelden
-
Nicole Kidman Talks Kissing Batman, "Hardcore Horror" Movies, and Feeling "Really Deeply"
"The thing people don't understand is, it's not about the check."
By Amy Mackelden