Lenny Kravitz on his giant scarf photo: ‘I cannot escape this’

German Radio Award 2018

In 2012 Lenny Kravitz was spotted in the streets of New York City in what can generously be called an oversized scarf. After he got caught by the paparazzi, everyone with a sense of humor and a working knowledge of Photoshop had their way with the photo, turning it into a hilarious meme.

The photo also raised this perplexing question:

The scarf seems to be Lenny’s most talked about fashion faux pas since the great leather pants incident of 2015, when he ripped the crotch of his pants during a show in Stockholm, exposing fans to the Full Kravitz. In a January, 2017 Billboard interview, he was discussing his role on my guiltiest TV pleasure Star (which I’m still trying to be an extra on…come on, Central Casting!) and was asked about the scarf. Back then, he said, “That thing will not go away! What’s funny is that they’ll blow it up and make the scarf even bigger than it was. It’s so funny. That thing just keeps on popping up. But yeah, that was a cold-ass day.”

On a Monday appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, promoting his new album Raise Vibration, the 54-year-old musician again relayed the story of the famous scarf, telling Jimmy, “I cannot escape this.” Lenny, who lives in the Bahamas, went on to add, “I’m used to hot weather and I had to go to the store, I was buying some groceries and I thought I’d put on a little scarf to protect my throat, and that’s the scarf I had.”

He defended the scarf, which he said was given to him by a friend, insisting it wasn’t a blanket, adding, “That was the day I thought I would break it out, and I had no idea that there would be paparazzi and that is now everything.” And it seems this meme has an enduring legacy, as Lenny pointed out, “Here’s the thing about the internet though that’s the problem — the scarf keeps getting bigger, and bigger and bigger.”

Hey, I get it. I lived a lot of my life in Florida and even Atlanta winters get to me. I am eternally cold, so If I had a scarf like that, I would totally wear it. And Lenny is 54? Wow, he just doesn’t age. On Monday’s Tonight Show, Lenny also performed his latest song, “Low” off of the new album and his voice still sounds great. You never know, it might just be that scarf.

Handsome, sweet pipes and a sense of humor? Lenny’s got them all wrapped up. The singer joined his daughter Zoe for a round of lip sync charades against Jimmy and guest Reese Witherspoon, wearing a dress I must have in my closet immediately. Lenny mimics a mean “Brick House”, that’s for sure.

Lenny Kravitz during an appearance on NBC's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.'

Lip Sync Charades as seen on NBC's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.'

Lip Sync Charades as seen on NBC's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.'

BBC Radio 2 in Hyde Park

Photos: WENN

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49 Responses to “Lenny Kravitz on his giant scarf photo: ‘I cannot escape this’”

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  1. Beth says:

    Whenever I hear about his “scarf,” I laugh, because that looks like a blanket. Only Lenny can still look so beautiful and sexy while walking down the street with a ginormous blanket /scarf knotted around his neck. Damn, this man makes me drool!

  2. Reese says:

    Had a crush on him growing up and still do now! Love him.

    • velourazure says:

      Lenny’s great. Is it just me or do his jeans in the first photo make it look like he peed himself?

  3. Erinn says:

    I just love that he doesn’t even look 1/8th as ridiculous as if I’d done this. He’s just someone who manages to look really cool regardless. I think it’s his attitude.

    But damn, if I don’t need a scarf blanket. I could hide out from coworkers with that thing – I’m only 5’2″ so I’m pretty sure I’d be mostly blanket/scarf while sitting at my cubicle.

    • Sojaschnitzel says:

      He’s the male Rihanna. Can wear whatever and still look mindblowingly beautiful.

      • Susannah says:

        Yes!! Like Lisa Bonet too, they were so gorgeous together, some people just have style. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people!

  4. CommentingBunny says:

    That game was so cute! Put a huge smile on my face.

  5. Ripley says:

    My God does Zoe look like her mother. I love me some Lenny and his scarf, it brings me joy.

    • Fleur says:

      People say that, but I don’t think they look much alike at all. More now that her mother is older and has very thin, defined cheekbones, but not much when she was younger and had softer features. Lisa also had those big, beautiful eyes. I look at Zoe and I see a near replica of her father Lenny, in female form.

      They’re all beautiful, so it’s a compliment to look like any of them.

  6. Alix says:

    They all keep trying to make Zoe happen, and it’s not working. Sure, she gets some jobs, but she’s still primarily known for who her parents are.

    • ttu says:

      One, she fully admits that. She’s not a Kardashian who’ll sit there and talk about how hard she worked to get where she is. Two, she makes good music.

    • Lucy2 says:

      I thought she was very good in Big Little Lies. She can’t help that her parents are famous and she looks just like her mother, at least she’s out there trying to do her thing.

  7. WaterisLife says:

    Shit, I’ll be his scarf!

  8. Scarlet Vixen says:

    I grew up in L.A. and now live in Michigan. I would wear the sh*t out of that scarf like, 5 months out of the year. 😀

    • Esmom says:

      I’m in Chicago and I wear scarves well into May and starting pretty early in the fall. Never one as big as Lenny’s, lol, but I would. I thought he looked cool and I love how he has a sense of humor about it.

    • jwoolman says:

      You must be in a balmier part of Michigan than I was as a kid. I would have needed that scarf October through April. My hands were always blue with cold…

      • Scarlet Vixen says:

        @Jwoolman: I am in the Grand Rapids area, so not the UP or anything, but yay for lake effect snow…My comfortable temp range is about 72-80 degrees, but I only said 5 months because I didn’t wanna sound like too much of a wuss! From mid-Dec to mid-April I leave my house as little as humanly possible. I couldn’t even tell you how many scarves/hats/gloves I own. My husband, on the other hand, is a former hockey player born in Edmonton, AB who wishes it were 30 degrees all year long.

  9. manda says:

    Ok that scarf thing was so funny! I’m glad that he is basically good-natured about it.

    That game was so silly, it was testing whether the person could read lips. They had fun though!

  10. Krysha says:

    Even a ginormous scarf cannot hide the sexy/cool appeal of Lenny Kravitz.
    Also, I somehow missed the pants-splitting event in Stockholm first time around… *does quick google search and is floored* my day is now complete and I’m going straight back to bed…

  11. Jerusha says:

    When LK did a concert here, he walked around downtown and visited an antique shop owned by one of my former students. She said he was a doll, posed for pictures and bought a few things. Seems like a nice guy.

  12. Lala11_7 says:

    So…SESSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Goldengirlslover34 says:

    I need that scarf. I’m always cold!

  14. Veronica S. says:

    Only he could wear a giant brown scarf that well. At least he’s a good sport about the meme.

  15. Scal says:

    Corey-it’s a brandon maxwell dress. It’s awesome and I to want it in my closet ASAP.

  16. Darla says:

    Personally I don’t think it’s a scarf, I think it’s a sofa throw, but whatever.

  17. Abby says:

    Hahahahah I love this scarf photo and the photoshopped one, and I’m glad he can laugh about it 🙂

  18. Eden75 says:

    54? Holy crap.

    Damn, still as sexy as ever.

    I love the part in the video where Zoe is trying to get his attention, “dad, dad”. LOL! Great clip.

  19. Erin says:

    This was great, but seriously WTF is Zoe wearing?? She looks like a Boca Raton bingo hostess.

    • Darla says:

      I don’t get her, or Lisa Bonet’s style at all. But…they’re both beautiful women so I don’t think it really matters what they wear. And I guess I still prefer it to the overly tight, cut too low, styles we see on so many other celebrities.

  20. Sparkly says:

    I actually loved that scarf. I thought it looked so comfy.

  21. Nibbi says:

    i’d actually wear the shit out of that scarf.

    well i wouldn’t look as un-ageably-sexy as he does, but i would, you know, wear it all the time.
    i have a huge cashmere one (just not that huge) and i practically live in it 4 months out of the year. i pretty much would just give up every winter if it weren’t for acres of wool to wrap around the neck.

    can we make this a thing?

  22. Nibbi says:

    OK i keep coming back to comment more bc LENNY KRAVITZ <3 <3 <3
    just to say that that clip is adorable (still can't w Reese tho, blah) and that pretty much only he could play that game and "as a dad" no less and STILL be cool and fun and not-ridiculous.
    gawd has he ever done anything that wasn't cool and/or sexy as hell? argh

  23. CityGirl says:

    My longest crush…..since back when he was Romeo Blue….

  24. Yes Doubtful says:

    Only he can make a large scarf like that look cool.

  25. Myrtle says:

    That scarf isn’t the only thing about him that keeps getting bigger and bigger!

  26. mtam says:

    I would buy that scarf/blanket/sofa throw in a heartbeat.

  27. Snowflake says:

    He lives in the Bahamas??!!! *Packing bags, booking one way ticket* lol

  28. SJhere says:

    Lenny is endlessly looking good. Whoa, has not aged a day.

    p.s. I can’t stand Jimmy Fallon. I came to see Lenny! 🙂

    • Nibbi says:

      i felt sorta murderous when Jimmy Fallon, the interviewer not the interviewee fer cryin’ out loud, talked over LK… LK was detailing interesting parts of his collection & sort of reverencing his idols, and dude’s gotta talk over him to make his lame-azz joke about the Hard Rock Café so we miss the last of what L was trying to say GRRRR

  29. Anare says:

    I watched him on Jimmy Fallon and he is hot as hell, charming, mysterious like Prince and the new song he performed, “Low” is awesome. ❤️Lenny Kravitz