Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses are sparking backlash—and not just over privacy. During a performance at Madrid’s Mad Cool Festival, pop star Lorde bluntly declared the devices “not sexy,” urging fans to skip them entirely.
Why Lorde’s criticism of Meta AI glasses matters
Smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta models pack cameras and AI features, but their real-world use has raised alarms. Security experts warn they’ve been exploited for harassment and extortion, while Meta faces lawsuits alleging privacy violations, including claims that contract workers in Kenya were forced to review graphic footage to train its AI.
Lorde’s remarks may have been prompted by the festival’s sponsorship ties: Ray-Ban, which partners with Meta on the glasses, was a sponsor, and fellow performer Jennie is an ambassador for the product line.
Sales soar despite the controversy
Privacy concerns haven’t slowed demand. EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban’s parent company, reported selling over 7 million Meta AI glasses in 2025—triple the combined total from 2023 and 2024. The success has emboldened Meta to expand its smart glasses lineup.
Yet Lorde’s take cuts to the chase: if ethical and legal debates don’t deter buyers, vanity might. As she put it, the here and now—that’s what’s truly “sexy.”
