Why Met Gala 2023’s Karl Lagerfeld theme is causing an uproar: before his death, Chanel’s late creative director made controversial remarks on #MeToo, plus-sized models, migrants and same-sex marriage
- On May 1, celebrities and A-listers will gather for the biggest fashion event of the year, the Met Gala – but many aren’t happy with the 2023 theme, which pays tribute to the late Karl Lagerfeld
- While the late German designer is widely praised for his work in fashion, he was also criticised for being a ‘big mouth’ speaking out against migrants, sexual assault survivors and ‘ugly’ people
He was also a self-proclaimed “big mouth”, publicly sounding off with his fatphobia. He spoke against gay men who want to adopt children, migrants, sexual assault survivors, the #MeToo movement and “ugly” people, without apology.
And he left behind receipts – his own contentious words.
Lagerfeld died in 2019 after dominating the fashion universe into his 80s. Come May 1, his legacy will be on display at the starry fundraising party and its companion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Likely not on display, however, will be his polemical tendencies.
“He offended people right and left, making as much of an art out of the cutting aside as the perfectly cut double-face gown,” The New York Times wrote soon after Lagerfeld’s death.
“He judged,” continued the publication, “and knew he would be judged himself, but he didn’t care. Rather, he embraced it.”
The choice of Lagerfeld for fashion’s biggest night is not without critics, though gala visionary and close friend Anna Wintour is clearly not among them. An emailed request for her comment on this side of Lagerfeld went unreturned.
When 400 or so celebrities and elite from fashion, tech, politics, music, social media, film, TV and sports ascend the Met’s Grand Staircase for the gala, Jameela Jamil won’t be there.