Ice Spice may be one of the hottest new artists of 2023, but the star paid tribute to one of the classics during her latest performance.
The 23-year-old rapper – who recently put on a cheeky show – dressed as iconic 1930s animated character Betty Boop when she performed at the iHeart Powerhouse 105.1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday night.
The stunner – born Isis Naija Gaston – was a dead ringer for the iconic cartoon that caricatures a Jazz Age flapper as she wore her signature strapless mini dress that showed off her signature curves.
She paired the sexy gown with a matching garter with a glittery velvet heart as she strutted her stuff in classic black high heels.
Ice accessory featuring a large gold bracelet on each wrist, matching earrings and a platinum diamond-encrusted chain with a cross pendant.
Red hot: Ice Spice dressed as iconic 1930s animated character Betty Boop while performing Saturday night at the iHeart Powerhouse 105.1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Rocking it: The stunner – born Isis Naija Gaston – was a dead ringer for the iconic cartoon that caricatures a Jazz Age flapper as she wore her signature strapless mini dress that showed off her signature curves
Perhaps most importantly, the Munch hitmaker covered up her signature orange afro with a short black wig in Betty’s signature hairstyle, while she topped off her makeup with a swipe of bright red lip.
Betty Boop is a character created by Max Fleischer, who first appeared in 1930 and appeared in 90 theatrical cartoons through 1939.
Meanwhile, Ice revealed in September that she was left ‘so confused’ by singer Matty Healy’s 1975 racist comments about her on a podcast – before the star made several groveling apologies.
In February 2023, during an appearance on The Adam Friedland Show, the British singer, 34, claimed he had tried to message Ice on Instagram – before joining Friedland and co-host Mullen to appear to confuse her heritage with her Inuit and Chinese, with the accents of each imitated and mocked.
The podcast episode was later pulled from both Spotify and Apple Music due to its offensive content.
Speak with VarietyIce, who has since worked with Healy’s ex, superstar Taylor Swift, said: ‘After I heard that little podcast or whatever, I was so confused. Because I heard “chubby Chinese lady” or something like that, and I was like, “Huh?” What does that even mean?’
‘First of all, I’m fat. What do you mean Chinese? What? But then they apologized or something. And the whole time I didn’t really care.
She added that Healy had now apologised, saying: ‘But that’s funny because I saw him a few days ago at Jean Paul Gaultier’s party and he said, ‘Hey, you okay?’ and I said, “Of course.” He has apologized to me several times. Were good.’
Leggy lady: She paired the sexy gown with a matching garter with a glittery velvet heart as she strutted her stuff in classic black high heels
Details: Ice accessory featuring a large gold bracelet around each wrist with matching earrings and a diamond-encrusted platinum chain with a cross pendant
Racy: She did her signature sexy pose during her performance
Change: Perhaps most importantly, the Munch hitmaker covered up her signature orange afro with a short black wig in Betty’s signature hairstyle, while she topped off her makeup with a swipe of bright red lip.
Often Duplicated: Betty Boop is a character created by Max Fleischer, who first appeared in 1930 and appeared in 90 theatrical cartoons through 1939
In April, Matty apologized to Ice Spice on stage, insisting he “never meant to hurt anyone.”
Noting that he is “sincerely sorry,” he said at a concert in New Zealand: “I’m sorry if I offended you.” Ice Spice, I’m sorry. It’s not because I’m annoyed that my joke was misinterpreted, it’s because I don’t want Ice Spice to think I’m a jerk.
“I love you Ice Spice…. It’s okay that I’m a cheater or whatever, but I don’t want to be seen as mean…
“We all get it wrong, and I just have to do it publicly and then apologize.”
Shock: Meanwhile, Ice revealed in September that she was left ‘so confused’ by singer Matty Healy’s 1975 racist comments about her on a podcast – before the star made several groveling apologies
His ex: The Barbie World hitmaker also spoke about her night with Healy’s ex Taylor Swift at the VMAs – where she won the coveted Best New Artist gong
Shocking comments: Ice told Variety, “After I heard that little podcast or whatever, I was so confused. Because I heard “chubby Chinese lady” or something like that, and I was like, “Huh?” What does that even mean?’ (Matty pictured last June)
Spice said of Taylor, “That’s my sister. We talked about a lot of things. She’s so funny. We were sipping a little something. Just chat, vibrate’
The Barbie World hitmaker also spoke about her night with Swift at the VMAs, where she won the coveted Best New Artist award.
The pair were seatmates, with Ice saying of her Karma associate, “That’s my sister. We talked about a lot of things. She’s so funny. We were sipping a little something. Just chatting, vibrating.’
Taylor said in an email to the publication that she could “relate to Ice in so many ways,” writing, “She is extremely professional without being cold. Playful and fun without ever taking her eye off the prize. She knows what is and isn’t ‘her’ and sets those boundaries with grace.
‘She studies the industry and the careers of other artists, but is very clear about charting her own definitive, original path. It is her ability to carefully find that balance that impresses me.”