The Most Divisive Met Gala Outfits in History
Often referred to as the biggest night in fashion, the Met Gala’s guests are in a prime position to make a statement with their looks. Purposefully or not, celebrities have a history of ruffling feathers at the annual fundraising event (looking at you, Kim Kardashian).
Controversy often stems from the gala’s theme, which not only informs the evening’s dress code but corresponds with an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
Whether using the red carpet to take a political stance or simply ignoring the theme altogether, there are no shortage of controversial moments in Met Gala history.
Here are some of the buzziest, most talked about looks over the years.
Kim Kardashian’s Marilyn Monroe Dress in 2022
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Always one to stir things up on the Met Gala carpet, Kim Kardashian broke the internet yet again in 2022 by arriving in a gown originally that belonged to Marilyn Monroe. The iconic movie star famously wore the glittering ivory dress when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Kardashian borrowed the gown from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which purchased the dress from Julien’s Auction in November 2016 for a whopping $4.81 million.
The reality star revealed that she had to lose 16 pounds to fit into the dress, as she wasn’t permitted to alter it.
“I tried it on and it didn’t fit me. I said, ‘Give me three weeks.’ I had to lose 16 pounds down today,” Kardashian told Vogue correspondent La La Anthony on the red carpet.
“It was such a challenge. It was like a [movie] role. I was determined to fit [into] it. I haven’t had carbs or sugar in about three weeks. We’re having pizza and donut party back at the hotel [after the Met Gala],” she added.
Critics called out Kardashian not only for her extreme weight loss measures but for her choice to wear such a historic dress.
Cara Delevingne’s “Peg the Patriarchy” Breast Plate in 2021
Theo Wargo/Getty
At the 2021 Met Gala, the model made a statement in Dior Haute Couture white trousers and a matching breastplate reading, “Peg the patriarchy.” The bold phrase caused an uproar among fans; while some praised Delevingne for her bravado, others criticized her for being crass.
The ensemble also caught the attention of Canada-based sex educator Luna Matatas, who said she coined and trademarked the term “peg the patriarchy” in 2015.
“This happens to small artists all the time,” Matatas said via Instagram at the time, per Refinery29. “So much so that I have an assistant whose job includes finding and tracing people printing and selling Peg the Patriarchy. Remember that as a fat, queer, POC I am working twice as hard just to do what I’m already amazing at. From censorship to patriarchy to racism, all biz barriers specific to my social location.”