The Met Gala — the famous fashion event organized by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art — released the theme for 2023.
"Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" is the theme of 2023 and honors the late designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Today at the official announcement of “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” as the @metmuseum's Spring 2023 Costume Institute Exhibition, Pharrell Williams shared remarks about the late Karl Lagerfeld and the legacy he left behind. https://t.co/8E17nlL3cJ pic.twitter.com/dGjQg1D5NI
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) September 30, 2022
Lagerfeld, known for his role as artistic director of Chanel in addition to working at Chloé and his eponymous brand, was one of the most influential figures in fashion.
Why is the Met Gala's decision being criticized? The designer has been subject to criticism throughout his career. In particular, his language against girls and curvy women has been deemed "cruel" - he even said that "no one wants to see round women" when Brigitte magazine announced it would use "ordinary, realistic" women in 2009.
Other comments from him include: calling Adele "a little too fat", Heidi Klum "too heavy", Pippa Middleton "should only show her back". In addition, he said that Coco Chanel was not a feminist because she was "never ugly enough to be a feminist."
Lagerfeld has also been criticized for sending flowers to accused rapist Dominique Strauss-Kahn; defended fashion designer Karl Templer after he was accused of sexual harassment and said: "If you don't want your pants pulled up, don't model! Go to a monastery, there will always be a place for you in the monastery" and said he was " fed up" with the Me Too movement.
He called Muslims the "worst enemies" of the Jewish people in 2017, while criticizing France's acceptance of refugees.
"This man... was truly extremely talented, but used his platform in such a hateful way, mostly against women, repeatedly and until the last years of his life, showing no remorse, offering no atonement, no apology, no help to the groups he attacked,” said actress Jameela Jamil.
A line of racism, fat phobia and a hatred of the Me Too movement. Excited to see all the ladies celebrate this great lover of women! pic.twitter.com/7EYx6giGx8
— TITANIA (@jameelajamil) October 1, 2022
Through social networks, it seems that many people are of the same opinion as the actress.
Karl Lagerfeld defended the sexual assault of models and contributed to the stigma around coming forward years after an assault. He will be rewarded next year as the theme of “fashion’s biggest night,” because there is no consequence for defending sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/M64C1RtqAk
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) September 30, 2022
