The reality TV star and entrepreneur, Kim Kardashian, recently made headlines with a bold statement claiming that many people were unaware of who Marilyn Monroe was before she wore Monroe’s iconic ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ dress at the 2022 Met Gala. This remark has sparked a wave of controversy and backlash on social media.
Kim Kardashian’s decision to don Monroe’s historic dress for the Met Gala was met with significant criticism. The SKIMS founder faced accusations of damaging the garment, a claim she vehemently denied. Additionally, she was criticized for undertaking an extreme diet regimen to fit into the dress. Kardashian revealed to Vogue that she lost over a stone in weight within three weeks, stating, "I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein." This admission led to accusations of promoting unhealthy weight loss practices.
In response to the backlash, Kardashian compared her preparation to that of actors who undergo physical transformations for film roles. She told The New York Times, "To me, it was like: ‘OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role, and that is acceptable.’ Even Renée Zellweger gained weight for a role. It’s all the same to me. I wasn’t saying: ‘Hey everyone, why don’t you go lose this weight in a short period of time?’"
Another major point of contention was whether Kardashian had damaged the historical artifact. Scott Fortner, a collector specializing in Monroe memorabilia, posted photographs appearing to show stretched and buckled fabric and missing crystals on the back of the dress. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, the dress's owner, issued a statement asserting that "great care was taken to preserve this piece of pop culture history" and that no alterations were made to the dress. They added that Kardashian changed into a replica after the red carpet event.
Ripley’s Vice President of Publishing and Licensing, Amanda Joiner, stated, "From the bottom of the Met steps, where Kim got into the dress, to the top where it was returned, the dress was in the same condition it started in." Ripley’s also emphasized that Kardashian did not pay to wear the dress, nor was she paid to do so. Instead, she made a charitable donation to two Orlando-area charities on behalf of the dress.
Ahead of her Met Gala appearance, Kim defended her outfit choice, emphasizing her respect for the dress and its historical significance. "I’m extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history," she said. "I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it, and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do."
However, her latest comments have ignited another controversy. During an appearance on Today with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, Kardashian claimed that many people didn’t even know who Marilyn Monroe was until she wore the gown. This statement has infuriated social media users, with one writing, "Ain’t no way Kim Kardashian said many people didn’t know who Marilyn Monroe was until she wore her dress." Another added, "The audacity of this," while others criticized her for living in a bubble of fame and wealth.
Marilyn Monroe wore the iconic dress to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in May 1962, just three months before her tragic death. Reflecting on Monroe’s legacy, Kardashian said, "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."
Kardashian’s assertion that some people did not recognize Monroe until she wore the dress has certainly stirred strong reactions. As social media continues to buzz with responses, it is evident that Marilyn Monroe’s influence remains powerful and enduring, with her iconic image forever etched in the annals of American pop culture.
