Kim Kardashian has claimed that many people didn’t even know who Marilyn Monroe was before we wore her dress at this year’s Met Gala. In a similar vein, Madonna’s viral social media post highlighting the importance of cultural icons sparked a discussion about the legacies we often overlook. This commentary resonates with many who feel that the contributions of historical figures like Monroe should be celebrated, not forgotten. As the conversation evolves, it becomes clear that reigning celebrities have a unique power to shape public perception and revive interest in past legends.
Kimberly Noel Kardashian, popularly known as Kim Kardashian, is an American model, socialite, and media personality who first attracted media outlets when she was working as Paris Hilton’s stylist.
In May 2022, Kim stunned everyone when she appeared on the red carpet of Met Gala 2022 by wearing the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress.
The Keeping Up With Kardashian star wore the original dress only for four minutes on the red carpet and later changed into a replica before going inside for the actual show.
In her previous statement to Vogue, Kim shared that she had to lose sixteen pounds in three weeks to fit into that dress. However, the model faced backlash from the public and some media outlets as they all noticed that the dress looked ‘too tight’ on her.
After a few days of the Met Gala, the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of the original dress started making rounds on different social media platforms. The pictures showed that Kim somehow damaged the dress as it was ripped, and some of the crystals were either missing or hanging off of the dress.
The dress caused a stir on social media, and people started criticizing her for daring to wear the classic Monroe dress; it was worn by the legendary actress, singer, and model Marilyn in 1962 when she sang a birthday song for former American President John F. Kennedy.
“No way they let her wear that iconic dress.” Said a person on Twitter.
“She butchered the dress, how dare she wear that!!!!” another person commented.
“Marilyn was way skinny. Why did they let her wear that dress?” a user penned.
“The reason it’s so upsetting Kim Kardashian ruined Marilyn Monroe’s dress isn’t actually about the dress – it’s that Marilyn was as intelligent, kind woman who was used, abused and exploited her whole life and even in death is still being so disrespected.” An angry user tweeted.
While speaking on the Today Show, Kardashian has addressed public concerns and all the criticism she faced after the Met Gala.
When hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie asked her about her statement on TikTok, Kim said that some people didn’t even know Marilyn Monroe before she wore her legendary dress.
The model replied, “That was the most shocking thing to me, and that’s why I was so happy to at least have that opportunity and that Ripley’s gave me the opportunity to share this moment so that it could live on.”
“I respect her, and I understand how much this dress means to American history. With the theme being American, I thought what is more American than Marilyn Monroe singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the president of the United States.”
She also added, “It was such a process. I showed up on the red carpet in a robe and slippers. I put the dress on on the bottom of the carpet, went up the stairs, I probably had it on for four minutes and then I changed right at the top of the stairs.”
“No. [Ripley’s and I] worked together so well. There was handlers and gloves that put it on me.” She said.
Earlier this week, the costume museum that bought the dress in 2016 also refuted the claims about the damage to the dress.
“Kim Kardashian’s walk up the Metropolitan Museum’s stairs at this year’s Met Gala caused quite the stir, but one thing Ripley’s Believe It or Not! can say with confidence is that it did not cause damage to Marilyn Monroe’s famed ‘Happy Birthday’ dress from 1962,” the statement read.
What are your thoughts about her recent statement? Let us know your views.
Sources:
Part of Featured Image via Marilyn Monroe on Instagram
Disgusting woman destroyed Monroes iconic dress. Why, because shes filthy rich?
I agree!!!!
No one will ever be Marilynn Monroe & they need to quit trying. Especially a Kardashian!!!!!!
It’s called curve appeal n it’s a man’s faulty vision of beauty that instigate the phases to layers of gang warfare
I feel the dress shld never have been warm,period.-
Just because you can do something,doesn’t mean you shld do. The dress did not look good at all to me on her. Everyone knows she way to big to ever be Marilyn.. and can never be-
Marilyn was a natural beauty.-
As far as ‘people not knowing who ‘Marilyn Monroe’was’..?..Please!!!-
That’s another statement that has come out of her mouth that totally shows, yet again,her privileged a** is not in touch with reality.-
Agree with you.