Margaret Qualley was roasted by a reporter and fans online after she wore a pair of £2,200 Chanel "barefoot" sandals to the world premiere of her new film, The Dog Stars, in London.
Walking the red carpet in Leicester Square, the two-time Golden Globe nominee was questioned about her footwear by Good Morning America reporter James Longman.
"Are you barefoot?" Longman asked in a clip posted to the show's Instagram account.
"I am! I've got like the little Chanel," Qualley replied.
"So you're Chanel barefoot, I'm from London, I mean Leicester Square barefoot is a choice!" the reporter quipped.
The controversial shoes, which made their runway debut at the designer's Cruise 2026/27 show in April, leave the sole of the foot completely exposed to the ground. The choice sparked bemusement from fans online, with several dubbing them the ugliest shoes in the world.
"I can't believe someone actually wore these Chanel shoes!" one user wrote. Another added: "What if she has to use a public restroom?! Inflation hit fashion it's too expensive to make a full shoe."
Other commenters questioned the price tag for the minimalist design. "So she paid full price for only a quarter of the shoe," one person noted, while another agreed: "Yea, I'm not paying for half a shoe."
Some fans expressed sympathy, with one writing: "Aww poor thing she forgot her shoe; First big outing in her single era and these are the shoes we went with? At least her makeup looks good." Others remained critical of the brand, stating that "Chanel is a joke" and suggesting the fashion industry "has to be actually mocking us".
First red carpet since split
Qualley attended the premiere in a plunging black tasselled gown with a V-neckline. She walked the carpet without her wedding ring, marking her first major public appearance since her split from music producer Jack Antonoff.
A representative for the two-time Actor Award nominee confirmed the breakup to TMZ on July 10, stating there was "no infidelity" and "no trust issues" behind the end of her "rocky" marriage to the 42-year-old Bleachers frontman.
The couple, who began dating in the summer of 2021, separated in July after nearly three years of marriage. They had not been pictured together since the Grammy Awards on February 1.
A source told DeuxMoi on July 8 that "there were many factors that allegedly contributed to the split, with those close to the situation also alleging Antonoff had long been difficult to live with".
Following the split, Qualley removed wedding photos taken at Beach Haven in New Jersey from her Instagram account. The actress, who recently co-directed Sabrina Carpenter's House Tour music video, also changed her handle to her legal name, Sarah Margaret Qualley, dropping previous names that referenced Antonoff's 2024 track Isimo.
Qualley was previously linked to her Death Note co-star Nat Wolff, comedian Pete Davidson, and actor Shia LaBeouf. Antonoff had previously dated photographer Carlotta Kohl, actress Lena Dunham, and Scarlett Johansson.
The Dog Stars premiere
Qualley plays Cima in The Dog Stars, a sci-fi film directed by Ridley Scott with a $110 million budget. She stars alongside Jacob Elordi in the post-apocalyptic story where a virus wipes out humanity.
According to the synopsis, survivors face roaming scavengers called Reapers. The protagonist, a pilot named Hig, survived the flu but lost his wife.
The film releases in cinemas in the UK and US on August 28.
