The Kim Kardashian Dress Controversy, Explained

The “Tax the Rich” dress from the 2021 Met Gala famously sparked a media controversy, and so it was this year with Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe’s original dress; ironically, the two dresses drew attention to wealth inequality, privilege, and tone-deaf publicity stunts.

What did Kim Kardashian do?

Kim Kardashian wore the iconic dress that was specifically made for Marilyn Monroe, which Monroe famously wore while serenading John F. Kennedy.

The dress is considered to be a priceless piece of American history, and is currently owned by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, who provided the dress to Kim Kardashian.

The dress, made for Monroe’s figure, didn’t initially fit Kardashian, who forced herself to endure an extreme diet to squeeze into the dress; when the time arrived, the dress still didn’t quite fit, as the back zipper could not be pulled all the way up, and was covered by a white fur stole.

Kardashian wore the dress briefly on the red carpet, before changing into an exact replica; her time wearing the dress sparked fears from fashion conservators that the dress might be permanently damaged, or that Kardashian’s actions would set a precedent, in which the wealthy might seek out more historic artifacts to use as publicity stunts.

Why are people so upset?

The worst fears of concerned critics seem to have been realized, as recent photographs taken by Scott Fortner, a collector who works to authenticate and verify Monroe memorabilia, appear to show the dress in a state of disarray, fabric torn and some crystals missing, with others “left hanging by a thread.”

The photos were uploaded to Instagram, with the caption and comments expressing anger and disappointment that Kardashian was allowed to wear the dress in the first place.

The damaged dress provoked an emotional reaction on social media, as Marilyn Monroe fans pointed to the events of Monroe’s often tragic life, as the actress was constantly denied ownership of her body and image, with Kardashian’s publicity stunt viewed as an extension of that pattern.

Others took the opportunity to crack a joke.

Normally, a museum wouldn’t have allowed a celebrity to cosplay with a piece of American history, no matter how wealthy, but Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! is a for-profit “attractions company.”

The International Council of Museums commented that “historic garments should not be worn by anybody, public or private figures.”