Ripley's Believe It or Not! releases a statement on the issue
Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 dress to the Met Gala 2022 last May has caused numerous reactions from the netizens until today. With reports about her allegedly damaging the iconic garb, people are sharing online their thoughts about how wrong it is to wear such a piece of pop culture history.
The risque dress crafted by French-born costume designer Jean Louis from the sketch of Bob Mackie is famously remembered by many as the piece the late Hollywood actress wore when she sang “Happy Birthday” to then US President John F. Kennedy (JFK). According to Variety, the dress “has been on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum in Orlando, Fla. since its purchase in 2016 for a whopping $4.81 million, a price that makes it one of the most expensive dresses ever sold.” For the event, Kim is assisted by a conservationist from Ripley’s to put on the dress, which she’s only allowed to wear for a few minutes, as per Vogue.
But that short moment unfortunately has put the dress in bad condition according to collector Scott Fortner of The Marilyn Monroe Collection. Seen on the images shared on Instagram are missing crystals, some are left hanging by a thread, as well as a rip on the strap and damage on the dress’ back closure. This aftermath led netizens to ask: “Was it worth it?”
To address the issue, Ripley's Believe It or Not! releases a statement saying that Kim “did not personally damage the garment in the short amount of time that it was worn at the Met Gala.”
“There is no disputing the fragility of the dress and there was a calculated risk associated with wearing it, but Ripley’s has been collecting notable pop-culture memorabilia, historical items, and unbelievable artifacts for over 100 years,” it said. “Our mission is to both entertain and educate, and sparking conversations like the discourse around the dress does just that. No matter which side of the debate you are on, the historical importance of the dress has not been negated, but rather highlighted.”
It also set the record straight that Kim didn’t pay to wear the dress, nor did they pay her to wear it. Instead, Kim “made a charitable donation to two charities in the greater Orlando area on behalf of the company.”
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