The Kim Kardashian ‘Marilyn Monroe Dress’ Controversy, Explained

The “Tax the Wealthy” gown from the 2021 Met Gala famously sparked a media controversy, and so it was this 12 months with Kim Kardashian carrying Marilyn Monroe’s unique gown; mockingly, the 2 attire drew consideration to wealth inequality, privilege, and tone-deaf publicity stunts.

What did Kim Kardashian do?

Kim Kardashian wore the enduring gown that was particularly made for Marilyn Monroe, which Monroe famously wore whereas serenading John F. Kennedy.

The gown is taken into account to be a priceless piece of American historical past, and is presently owned by Ripley’s Imagine It Or Not!, who supplied the gown to Kim Kardashian.

The gown, made for Monroe’s determine, didn’t initially match Kardashian, who pressured herself to endure an excessive weight loss plan to squeeze into the gown; when the time arrived, the gown nonetheless didn’t fairly match, because the again zipper couldn’t be pulled all the best way up, and was lined by a white fur stole.

Kardashian wore the gown briefly on the purple carpet, earlier than becoming a precise duplicate; her time carrying the gown sparked fears from fashion conservators that the gown is perhaps completely broken, or that Kardashian’s actions would set a precedent, by which the rich would possibly hunt down extra historic artifacts to make use of as publicity stunts.

Why are folks so upset?

The worst fears of involved critics appear to have been realized, as latest pictures taken by Scott Fortner, a collector who works to authenticate and confirm Monroe memorabilia, seem to indicate the gown in a state of disarray, material torn and a few crystals lacking, with others “left hanging by a thread.”

The images had been uploaded to Instagram, with the caption and feedback expressing anger and disappointment that Kardashian was allowed to put on the gown within the first place.

The broken gown provoked an emotional response on social media, as Marilyn Monroe followers pointed to the occasions of Monroe’s typically tragic life, because the actress was continually denied possession of her physique and picture, with Kardashian’s publicity stunt seen as an extension of that sample.

Others took the chance to crack a joke.

Usually, a museum wouldn’t have allowed a celeb to cosplay with a bit of American historical past, irrespective of how rich, however Ripley’s Imagine It Or Not! is a for-profit “sights firm.”

The Worldwide Council of Museums commented that “historic clothes shouldn’t be worn by anyone, public or personal figures.”