Charli XCX criticised ITV for “complaining about my nipples” during her acceptance speech at this year’s Brit Awards.

The British pop star, credited with popularising the term “Brat summer”, claimed the broadcaster had objected to her near-see-through black dress during Saturday’s ceremony.

Charli XCX, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, sparked a round of applause and cheers from the crowd as she said: “I heard that ITV complained about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of free the nipple though, right?”

The 32-year-old singer-songwriter added: “They put the clap track on, cool. Thanks for being on my side.”

The broadcaster appeared to change the camera angle from when she first went to the podium to collect the award for song of the year and later for artist of the year so that her nipples were not visible.

Free the nipple, a movement which advocates for women to be allowed to go topless in public, first gained public attention in 2014 after Bruce Willis’s daughter, Scout, walked half-naked through New York.

The movement has since been championed by British actors including Oscar-nominated Florence Pugh, and Emma Corrin who won a Golden Globe for portraying Diana, Princess of Wales in The Crown.

On Saturday, Charli XCX won five Brits, including for song, album and artist of the year. But she turned down requests from organisers to perform at the ceremony and had previously criticised the music awards for not nominating enough women.