The Iconic Moment Dennis Rodman Claimed Marriage to Himself
If ESPN's documentary "The Last Dance" has taught us anything, it's that Dennis Rodman (opens in new tab) always provides the most entertaining drama. When he appears in this series ostensibly about Michael Jordan and the 1997-8 Chicago Bulls, his whirlwind trip to Las Vegas, his intense body transformation, and his record-breaking career, even with all that's going on in his personal life, just to name a few of the fascinating stories that surround him But it would be totally scene-stealing. Although not explicitly covered in this series, Rodman's presence reminds fans of one of his most iconic moments: in 1996, the 6-foot-1 athlete donned a custom-made wedding dress, said he was bisexual, and claimed he was marrying himself.
In his memoir (opens in new tab), Rodman explains that as a young man raised primarily among women, he began cross-dressing at an early age. 'It was a gradual transition from piercings and nails to halter tops and tight leather shorts. Now I dress as a woman because it's another way I can show all sides of Dennis Rodman. I offer you everything. I'm becoming a jack-of-all-trades."
To promote this memoir, Bad as I Wanna Be, Rodman apparently drew inspiration from (open in new tab) Howard Stern. But Rodman, according to CNN, has made the idea completely his own: "From Kevin Aucoin's runway makeup to the throngs of tuxedo-clad women escorting him from his carriage to Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue.
It worked perfectly, drawing thousands of people to watch, making international news, and keeping the memoir on the New York Times bestseller list for over four months. In addition to the media frenzy, Rodman is credited with being an early icon who inspired others with his self-expression without pretension or fear of backlash.
Rodman even parodied his iconic moment in the promotion of his biopic "30 for 30":
And while the reaction to this event was unexpected, he countered, "That was the beginning of Dennis Rodman the rock star."
Fans have recently remarked that this was just one of the ways Rodman was ahead of his time.
That's great.
Watch "THE LAST DANCE" on ESPN+ (opens in new tab)
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