Why Did AOC’s Met Gala 2021 Dress Stir A Controversy?

Met Gala 2021 had some of the most iconic looks, and AOC’s was one of them. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore a dress with a political message. It had a bold and colossal statement that read ‘Tax the Rich’.  While some appreciated it, others criticized it greatly. Nonetheless, the AOC Met Gala look managed to stir controversy from people all across the political spectrum.

The price of one entry ticket for the event was around $35,000. Further, for a table, it ranged from $200,000 to $300,000. The guest list of Met Gala comprises Hollywood A-listers, supermodels, world-class athletes, social media influencers, and more. Similarly, many New York City elected officials were also on the guest list and were not required to pay.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Met Gala Dress

AOC wore a custom Brother Vellies white dress. It had a ‘Tax the Rich’ message. It was emblazoned across her back in bright red colour. The congresswoman of New York was wearing a wool jacket dress that had an orange flounce as well.

Cortez paired it with a pair of red shoes by Brother Vellies. The shoes had long laces and bright flowers along her heel. AOC’s bag also read ‘Tax the rich.’ While AOC may be one of the few politicians that attended the Met Gala 2021, she made the most of her time with her controversial dress.

The founder and creative director of Brother Vellies, Aurora James, said that one must not get too comfortable in their seats at the table once they have been given. She encouraged everyone that we must push ourselves, our culture, our country, and everyone forward.

What People Had to Say about AOC Met Gala

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s dress, as well as attendance in Met Gala 2021, was criticized by people. From the general public to politicians, many had a say about her dress. The eldest son of America’s former president, Donald Trump Jr., tagged AOC as a fraud.

While with this year’s event, AOC’s message was to Tax the Rich, he thinks she was hanging out with leftwing elites. On the other hand, the Republican of Indiana, Jim Representative Jim Banks, took to Twitter to state that AOC is a gift that keeps on giving.

Briahna Gray, a political commentator, and consultant said that Ms Ocasio-Cortez’s standard is unique as people expect more from her. In addition, the backlash for her dress was also because of some of AOC’s policy stances.

Even AOC’s supporters were of the simple view that sincere socialists shun events like Met Gala. Another socialist activist thought that AOC and the squad could leverage their huge base of support to demand the message on her dress, but she’s not doing it.

Actor Jameela Jamil defended Cortez by saying that everyone is now talking about ‘Tax the Rich’ because of her dress at the Met Gala. She added that AOC was invited for free and was wearing a free dress to back up her legitimate work on this issue in Congress, so why are people angry about it?

AOC got an invite for the Met Ball in 2019, but she did not go. Following that, the event for 2020 was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thus, she went all out with her look with this year’s event and made people Google AOC Met Gala.

AOC’s Stance on Her Dress

While she may have ruffled a lot of feathers with her Met Gala 2021 look, she still stands by her decision. Despite being called a hypocrite, AOC defended her decision to attend the event in her white dress.

She took to Instagram to post a photo with the caption ‘The medium is the message.’ She added that now is the time for childcare, healthcare, climate action for all, and more.

She also clarified that before people start to wild out, NYC elected officials are regularly given invites to attend the Met because of their responsibilities in overseeing the cultural institutions of the city serving the public. Adding to that, Cortez said that she was one of the many in attendance.

Ultimately, Cortez said they all talked about taxing the rich right in front of the same people lobbying against it. Following that with a fundraising email, she directed her followers to get their hands on their own ‘Tax the Rich’ attire. 

Conclusion

While AOC’s dress drew a lot of controversies, it had negative and positive reactions from people. After her stint, people searched for AOC Met Gala and Tax the Rich. So, haters may say what they want. Cortez’s dress did get some people talking about the message. Follow Fashinza and stay updated on the latest happenings in the fashion industry.