As the Met Gala came to an end, discussions about the controversies surrounding this year's honoree, Karl Lagerfeld, gained momentum.
His history of fat-shaming, misogyny, and racism has resurfaced in the past few days.
Who is Lagerfeld?
Karl Lagerfeld, a German-born fashion designer who was purportedly born in 1933 and passed away in 2019, began his career at the age of 17 after attending a runway show by Christian Dior in Ambour, where he decided to pursue fashion design. He started his career by working for Pierre Balmain and later moved on to Patou before joining Fendi in 1965.
Lagerfeld later became the creative director of Chanel, a French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel. He served as its head from 1983 until his passing in 2019 and is credited with revitalizing the brand and making it one of the most popular and influential fashion houses of the 2000s.
Karl Lagerfeld was a prominent figure in fashion throughout the last century and was known for his distinctive style that blended classic clothing with modern elements.
Jameela Jamil Put One Foot in the Pound
On May 3, it was Jameela Jamil who initiated the controversy. In an Instagram post, the actress from "The Good Place" called out the attendees of the 2023 Met Gala for their celebration of Karl Lagerfeld despite his problematic past.
“Last night Hollywood and fashion said the quiet part out loud when a lot of famous feminists chose to celebrate at the highest level, a man who was so publicly cruel to women, to fat people, to immigrants, and to sexual assault survivors. Nobody has perfect morals, least of all me, but Jesus Christ we had a year to course-correct here, and not award the highest honor possible to a known bigot. Everyone just decided all of a sudden we can separate the art from the artist when convenient. Last night we relinquished our right to be taken at all serious about anything important,” she said.
What did Lagerfeld Say that was so Bad?
What did Lagerfeld say that was so bad? Throughout his career, he was referred to as a man who "objectified women" and made comments about their bodies, such as in 2012 when he referred to Adele, the famous British singer, as “a little too fat, but has a beautiful face and a divine voice." He also compared migrants to the "worst enemies" of the Jews.
As of now, no famous celebrity has responded to Jameela's post, but it may only be a matter of time.
Edited by Adedamola Aregbesola