When Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s icon “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress to the 2022 Met Gala, she received an abundance of backlash. Fans, critics, designers, and even Met Gala attendees criticized her decision to wear such an iconic gown and her rapid weight loss to do so. Many expressed worry that her actions would act as encouragement for unhealthy weight loss and thought that no one should have worn the dress specifically designed for Monroe.
After the circulation of a photo showing alleged dress damage, Kardashian is facing even more condemnation. In a recent interview with The Today Show, she discussed the rumors regarding “ruining” Monroe’s dress and the weight she lost to wear it.
When first asked about the dress, Kardashian began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to wear it. She said, “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 mean, I respect her [Monroe], I understand how much this dress means to American history…”
She went on to discuss the tedious process for her moment on the red carpet. She explains, “I showed up to the red carpet in a robe and slippers and I put the dress on, on the bottom of the carpet, went up the stairs. I probably had it on for three minutes, four minutes, and then I changed right at the top of the stairs.” Kardashian denied the rumors that she damaged the dress by saying, “we [Ripley’s] worked together so well, there were handlers and gloves that put it on me.”
Kardashian also explained her weight loss for the event and said that “I looked at it like a role and I really wanted to wear this dress, it was really important to me.” She claimed that losing weight for the Met Gala shed light on how to improve her lifestyle and eat healthier.
