Kim Kardashian recently sparked controversy after claiming that many people didn’t know who Marilyn Monroe was until she wore the iconic “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress at the Met Gala. During an interview on the Today Show, Kardashian expressed her surprise at seeing comments on TikTok from people unfamiliar with Monroe, saying, “That was the most shocking thing to me.” She added that she was honored to wear the dress and hoped the moment would help preserve Monroe’s legacy.
Kardashian faced backlash when she wore the dress at the 2022 Met Gala, with critics accusing her of damaging the historic garment. Despite the uproar, Kim insisted that she and the team at Ripley’s Believe It or Not, who loaned her the dress, worked carefully to ensure it remained undamaged. She explained that she wore the dress for only four minutes on the red carpet before changing out of it.
The dress, originally worn by Monroe in 1962 for her iconic performance at President John F. Kennedy’s birthday celebration, is a significant piece of American history. Kardashian defended her decision, saying, “I respect her and I understand how much this dress means to American history.” She added that wearing the dress was part of her effort to honor Monroe’s legacy, especially given the event’s “American” theme.
Despite the criticisms, Kardashian seemed proud of her role in bringing attention to Monroe’s legacy, even if it sparked debates online. Fans and critics continue to weigh in on whether Kardashian’s Met Gala moment helped revive public interest in Marilyn Monroe or overshadowed the icon’s history.
