by By Olivia Schafer
The Met Gala, also known as the Costume Institute Gala, is one of the most prestigious fashion events of the year, attracting A-list celebrities and fashion industry icons. However, in recent years, the event has come under scrutiny for its lack of diversity and inclusivity, particularly when it comes to body size.
One of the reasons for this scrutiny is the late Karl Lagerfeld, a fashion designer and creative director who served as a longtime collaborator with the Met Gala. Lagerfeld was known for his controversial comments about body size, particularly in regards to plus-size models and women’s bodies. He famously said, “No one wants to see curvy women on the runway,” and “The hole in social security, it’s also the hole in the budget because of all the illnesses contracted by people who are too fat.”
As a result of Lagerfeld’s fatphobia, several celebrities have chosen not to attend this years Met Gala to acknowledge that things have changed and they do not agree with Lagerfeld’s opinion. One such celebrity is actress and comedian Leslie Jones, who took to Twitter in 2018 to voice her frustration with the event’s lack of inclusivity. “It’s so funny how there are no designers wanting to help me with a premiere dress for movie. Hmmm that will change and I remember everything,” she wrote. “I will always remember when Karl Lagerfeld said my body was not fit for a runway. Then I remembered I have a mirror and I’m just fine.”
Similarly, model Ashley Graham has also spoken out about Lagerfeld’s comments, revealing that she was once turned away from a Chanel casting because of her size. “I couldn’t even try on the clothes because they didn’t fit,” she told CBS This Morning. “The next day, my agent called me and said, ‘Karl has said you’re fat and you’re not invited to the show.'”
However many celebrities still attended the met and many of them went above in beyond to honor Karl Lagerfeld. Doja Cat wore a silvery hooded Oscar de la Renta gown — complete with cat ears — along with feline facial prosthetics and sharpened talons on her nails in respect of Lagerfelds cat Choupette.
Other celebrities who have boycotted the Met Gala due to Lagerfeld’s comments include model Tess Holliday and actress Melissa McCarthy. Holliday tweeted in 2018, “As a plus size woman & model, hearing Karl Lagerfeld’s comments about us is disgusting, ignorant, and irresponsible. My body is not a trend, it’s my vessel.”
While Lagerfeld passed away in 2019, his legacy of fatphobia in the fashion industry lives on. It’s important for the industry to recognize the harm that these comments can cause and work towards creating a more inclusive and diverse space. The Met Gala, in particular, should strive to showcase a range of body sizes and shapes on the red carpet, rather than perpetuating harmful beauty standards. By doing so, the fashion industry can help promote body positivity and acceptance, making fashion accessible to people of all sizes and backgrounds.
Hello Olivia!
This was a very interesting read! I was wondering why there were a lot of rumors about certain celebrities coming to the Met Gala and then they didn’t show up. I also saw that some celebrities, like Viola Davis, wore pink as a protest because Lagerfeld said it was his least favorite color.