Met Gala’s ‘Gilded Glamour’ ripped to shreds amid economic struggles

Allow them to eat cake.

As Individuals pinch pennies to pay for the hovering prices of groceries and gasoline, Met Gala organizers are being slammed for celebrating over-the-top opulence.

This yr’s gala — to be held tonight on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork — options the costume code “Gilded Glamor and White Tie,” paying homage to America’s period of financial ascent.

The Gilded Age — occurring between the years of 1870 and 1900 — marked a interval of fast financial enlargement throughout the nation, throughout which a small group of American households, together with the the Roosevelts, the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers, acquired outsized wealth.

However because the cashed-up elites flaunted their fortunes — with lavish houses, glamorous robes and priceless Renaissance artworks — thousands and thousands of residents lived in abject poverty, attempting to make ends meet.

Now, some critics have taken to Twitter, mentioning the problematic parallels between the Gilded Age and our present context — marked not solely by rising inequality, however the highest inflation ranges in additional than 40 years. On the similar time, the US financial system shrank by 1.4% in the latest quarter, contracting for the primary time because the pandemic-induced recession two years in the past.

The Met Gala, led by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (proper), has been slammed for this yr’s “Gilded Age” theme, which is ready to have fun excessive wealth as common Individuals battle amid the hovering value of residing.

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The Gilded Age was characterised by excessive wealth and opulent fashions. Socialite Alva Vanderbilt (pictured) was new to excessive society, and wore extravagant clothes in a bid to be accepted by her friends.

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“Am I the one one who thinks this years #MetGala theme is out of contact?” one raged. “Inequality is on the highest ranges because the Gilded Age, a pandemic & financial meltdown wrecked us, inflation is uncontrolled… however cool, let’s put on #GildedAge themed clothes & snigger about inequality.”

They added: “To be clear, I’m usually an enormous fan. However this yr’s theme is a slap within the face to common Individuals.”

Opulent: In the course of the Gilded Age, rich socialites opted to flaunt their fortunes by carrying lavish robes, comparable to those pictured. The clothes might be on show on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork.

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Going all out: Celebrities have by no means been shy about showing opulent and excessive on the famously extravagant gala. Lil Nas X is pictured on the occasion final yr.

Dimitrios Kambouris

In the meantime, one other blasted: “I’m nonetheless not over how ill-advised & tone deaf it's for the Met Gala to have chosen the gilded age of all issues for his or her theme. sure, there might be superior vogue. no, that doesn’t steadiness out the queasy.”

A 3rd chimed in saying that the theme of the glitzy gala would “piss individuals off”.

The Met Gala is organized and presided over by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, though she wasn’t singled out in any of the tweets.

Cardi B is pictured in an extravagant ensemble on the 2018 Met Gala.

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Vogue’s official Met Gala livestream will kick off at 6 p.m. ET and be broadcast throughout the journal’s digital platforms, in addition to on Instagram, Fb and Twitter.

Vanessa Hudgens, La La Anthony and Vogue editor at massive Hamish Bowles will share internet hosting duties.

Celebrities aren’t ashamed of going all out for the annual bash, donning eye-catching frocks and dripping in thousands and thousands of dollars of diamonds.

Whereas the complete friends listing for tonight’s occasion has been saved high secret, however Web page Six sources say Cardi B is ready to attend carrying an costly Versace robe. Others reported to be on the visitor listing embody Katy Perry, Sydney Sweeney, Gigi Hadid and all 5 Kardashian sisters.