Politics at the Met Gala
By Sydney Steidl
September 2021
The Met Gala, a highly exclusive fundraiser held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, took place on September 13, 2021 after the pandemic put it on hold for almost two years. The event has become known for its over-the-top dress by the celebrities in attendance based on their designers’ interpretations of the theme. This year’s, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” has opened the floor for a range of statements about our nation, done primarily through the medium of the event: fashion.
In adherence to the theme, rapper Saweetie’s ensemble included two capes; one was the Black American heritage flag and the other the Filipino flag, because, as she put it, “I’m Black and Filipino, and that’s what makes me an American Girl.”
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney’s outfit was a gown of pennants, each reading “EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN.” The dress was paired with a clutch that read “ERA YES,” which represents the Equal Rights Amendment and Maloney’s support for its ratification.
“Schitt’s Creek” star and producer Dan Levy advocated for queer visibility in his outfit, a reference to AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz’s artwork, which depicts two men kissing on the front. As Levy said, “I think that has always kind of been what the Met has embodied--doing what you can do to send a message. It’s not just clothes, you’re celebrating the impact that fashion can have and culture.”
This year, however, the most popular political statement of the evening was that of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Many of New York’s government officials are invited to the Met Gala, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, through controversy, made it well-known that she was one of them. In an outfit designed by Aurora James, her long, wool, white dress had the words “TAX THE RICH” written in strikingly red, massive letters across the back.
Ocasio-Cortez has received criticism from all ends of the political spectrum: the right mostly disagreeing with the message itself, while the opposite end calls her methods of spreading that message performative. Additionally, some of the congresswoman’s fellow democratic socialists have called her wearing of the slogan “Tax The Rich” hypocritical on her night out with a mass of New York’s most affluent citizens. Others say that this is exactly the point of her statement, and the setting only adds to her courage in wearing the dress. As Maya Wiley, former New York City mayoral candidate said, “To walk into a space that’s about art, fashion, luxury, and wealth and say, ‘Here is the conversation we have to confront, but I’m going to confront it in the vernacular of the event,’ is brilliant.”
Despite the celebrities getting the most media coverage, activism is not solely left to those invited inside the event, as protesters gathered outside of the 2021 Met Gala to fight for police reform. They called on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to defund the police due to his past of siding with the actions of the New York Police Department (NYPD). As their flyer read, “The NYPD has a total financial allocation of $11 billion per year. This money goes towards racist policing that destroys Black and Brown communities while people who are struggling do not get the resources they need. CARE, not COPS, is the answer.” The group additionally focused on bringing attention to Mike Rosado, a 24-year-old man who was shot and killed by off-duty police because the officers allegedly did not identify themselves as the NYPD and shot while his hands were in the air. At least nine of the protesters at the Gala were arrested.
While political statements have been made at the Met Gala before this year, 2021’s American theme truly opened the doors for politics to gain its own seat at the table. From statements made by the attendees, to the fight to improve the nation from outside of the event, the nature of these protests seem to reflect American itself.
September 2021
The Met Gala, a highly exclusive fundraiser held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, took place on September 13, 2021 after the pandemic put it on hold for almost two years. The event has become known for its over-the-top dress by the celebrities in attendance based on their designers’ interpretations of the theme. This year’s, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” has opened the floor for a range of statements about our nation, done primarily through the medium of the event: fashion.
In adherence to the theme, rapper Saweetie’s ensemble included two capes; one was the Black American heritage flag and the other the Filipino flag, because, as she put it, “I’m Black and Filipino, and that’s what makes me an American Girl.”
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney’s outfit was a gown of pennants, each reading “EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN.” The dress was paired with a clutch that read “ERA YES,” which represents the Equal Rights Amendment and Maloney’s support for its ratification.
“Schitt’s Creek” star and producer Dan Levy advocated for queer visibility in his outfit, a reference to AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz’s artwork, which depicts two men kissing on the front. As Levy said, “I think that has always kind of been what the Met has embodied--doing what you can do to send a message. It’s not just clothes, you’re celebrating the impact that fashion can have and culture.”
This year, however, the most popular political statement of the evening was that of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Many of New York’s government officials are invited to the Met Gala, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, through controversy, made it well-known that she was one of them. In an outfit designed by Aurora James, her long, wool, white dress had the words “TAX THE RICH” written in strikingly red, massive letters across the back.
Ocasio-Cortez has received criticism from all ends of the political spectrum: the right mostly disagreeing with the message itself, while the opposite end calls her methods of spreading that message performative. Additionally, some of the congresswoman’s fellow democratic socialists have called her wearing of the slogan “Tax The Rich” hypocritical on her night out with a mass of New York’s most affluent citizens. Others say that this is exactly the point of her statement, and the setting only adds to her courage in wearing the dress. As Maya Wiley, former New York City mayoral candidate said, “To walk into a space that’s about art, fashion, luxury, and wealth and say, ‘Here is the conversation we have to confront, but I’m going to confront it in the vernacular of the event,’ is brilliant.”
Despite the celebrities getting the most media coverage, activism is not solely left to those invited inside the event, as protesters gathered outside of the 2021 Met Gala to fight for police reform. They called on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to defund the police due to his past of siding with the actions of the New York Police Department (NYPD). As their flyer read, “The NYPD has a total financial allocation of $11 billion per year. This money goes towards racist policing that destroys Black and Brown communities while people who are struggling do not get the resources they need. CARE, not COPS, is the answer.” The group additionally focused on bringing attention to Mike Rosado, a 24-year-old man who was shot and killed by off-duty police because the officers allegedly did not identify themselves as the NYPD and shot while his hands were in the air. At least nine of the protesters at the Gala were arrested.
While political statements have been made at the Met Gala before this year, 2021’s American theme truly opened the doors for politics to gain its own seat at the table. From statements made by the attendees, to the fight to improve the nation from outside of the event, the nature of these protests seem to reflect American itself.