Addison Rae Wears "Protect the Dolls" Shirt Supporting Trans Rights at Coachella

Addison Rae Wears Viral "Protect the Dolls" Shirt Supporting Trans Rights at Coachella 2025

TikTok star and pop artist Addison Rae made waves at Coachella 2025 not only with her surprise performance—but with a powerful fashion statement.

Before taking the stage with Charli XCX for a live remix of their track “Von Dutch”, Rae shared a TikTok transition video that caught fans’ attention. In the opening shot, she was seen wearing the now-viral “Protect the Dolls” t-shirt—a simple design with a bold message supporting trans rights. The moment quickly went viral and solidified Rae's place among a growing number of celebrities using their platforms to champion the trans community.

What Is the “Protect the Dolls” Shirt?

The white t-shirt with black lettering was created by fashion designer Conner Ives, who debuted it during his Fall 2025 runway show at London Fashion Week. Closing the show in the shirt himself, Ives sent a clear message of solidarity—one that has since caught fire across pop culture.

The phrase “Protect the Dolls” is a nod to the affectionate term “the dolls,” often used within LGBTQ+ and ballroom culture to refer to trans women. The shirt became a viral symbol of allyship after being worn by stars including:

• Pedro Pascal, at his 50th birthday celebration

• Troye Sivan, during weekend one of Coachella

• Haider Ackermann, designer and longtime LGBTQ+ supporter

Ives later made the t-shirt available for purchase online, with 100% of the proceeds going to Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit providing peer support, crisis resources, and advocacy for the trans community.

“I would not be where I am without the support I have been given by the dolls,” Ives wrote on Instagram. “This is the least I could ever do to say thanks.”

$250,000 Raised and Counting

The shirt’s viral success has translated into real impact. According to The New York Times, sales have raised more than $250,000 for Trans Lifeline to date—a figure that continues to grow as the design spreads through celebrity circles and social media.

“Clothes that become something bigger,” Ives said in a recent post. “Moments like these remind me why I do this.”

His statement reflects a shift in how fashion and activism increasingly intersect—especially at events like Coachella, where style and social messaging collide under a global spotlight.

Celebrity Allyship at Coachella

Coachella has long served as a cultural bellwether, and 2025’s edition has proven no different. Troye Sivan wore the shirt during his own stage appearance with Charli XCX during the festival’s first weekend, further propelling the message into mainstream awareness.

Pedro Pascal’s birthday photos featuring the shirt—alongside legendary DJ and trans icon Honey Dijon—were widely shared earlier this year. Each of these moments builds on a broader wave of support from celebrities standing visibly with the trans community in the face of escalating anti-trans legislation and rhetoric.

About Trans Lifeline

The nonprofit benefiting from t-shirt sales, Trans Lifeline, offers a confidential, trans-led crisis hotline and support network for trans people in the U.S. and Canada. Staffed entirely by trans operators, it provides vital, judgment-free assistance—from emotional support to resource navigation.

As Ives noted, “Resources like this are now more important than ever, given the hostility and oppression the federal government has adopted towards trans people in America.”

Fashion That Speaks Louder

For Addison Rae, whose influence spans music, TikTok, and Gen Z pop culture, wearing the shirt was more than a Coachella moment. It was a visible show of support at a time when fashion can serve as both platform and protest.

The continued success of the “Protect the Dolls” campaign proves that style can spark conversations, fund essential services, and build community—one shirt at a time.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for more stories at the intersection of fashion, activism, and culture.