The Veronicas performed 'topless' at the ARIAs, and Australia could not cope.

On Wednesday night, The Veronicas performed at the ARIA Awards with nothing more than a thick layer of red glitter between their breasts and the outside world.

And viewers couldn’t cope.

Within seconds of the chart-topping pair tossing their latex jackets to floor during their rendition of In My Blood, Twitter lit up with shock and awe:

We’re not going to lie, we were a little shocked too.

I mean, all that enthusiastic dancing without any support?! We feel like that might hurt a little tomorrow.

And also… HOW DID THEY GET ALL THE GLITTER OFF?!

If we’re even in the same room as the stuff we end up finding it in our sheets for weeks. Meanwhile, these women dip their entire bodies in it, and minutes later they’re back on stage like nothing happened.

We assume it was some kind of very thin sparkly fabric. Or magic. Possibly magic.

Either way, we were seriously impressed.

Of course, this is Twitter we’re talking about here, so obviously not everyone was quite so enamoured with their choice/lack of outfit.

But fans were quick to point out that the shape of a woman’s breast is about as inoffensive is it gets.

#freethenipple

Iconic? That might be a stretch. But we have no doubt it will be shown in best-of ARIA montages for a while.

And to think it nearly didn’t make it to air.

People in the room reported that an audio stuff-up interfered with their original performance. But because the broadcast isn’t actually live – yes, TV lied to you – they got to have a second crack.

And for that, we will be forever grateful.