‘Begging for pitchforks’: Met Gala slammed for opulence amid war, inflation

Organisers of the Met Gala 2022 are facing widespread criticism for their decision to go with the theme of ‘Gilded Glamour’ amid record levels of inflation in the US.

The theme of the annual gala, which governs the dress code for the event, is inspired by the second part of a two-part exhibition named ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion‘, by Andrew Bolton, the Head Curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

This year’s theme of ‘Gilded Glamour’ is a nod to the Gilded Age of America, marked by rapid industrialisation and widespread prosperity between 1870 and 1890.

Also read | Met Gala 2022: Your guide to the star-studded event in NYC

With regard to the gala’s sartorial theme, ‘Gilded Glamour’ revolves around the evolution of American fashion and the works of individual designers, tailors, and dress-makers in the aforementioned period, and later works inspired by the same.

However, the organisers’ decision to go with a theme of prosperity and opulence has angered many, especially with the US experiencing its highest levels of inflation in nearly half-a-century. With anger mounting, many took to Twitter to criticise the event.

Also read | Met Gala 2022: All Kardashians have been invited but some may not show up

One user described the Met Gala theme as being “out of touch,” and mocked the event for its selection of the theme in a post-pandemic economy “wrecked” by inflation.

Another user likened the Met Gala 2022 to Mary Antoinette’s infamous indifference to peoples’ woes during the period of the French Revolution, even referencing the famous words, “Let them eat cake,” which the French queen allegedly said in response to the woes of starving peasants who did not have access to bread.

Social and political commentators also criticised the event and its theme, which was announced on the same day when news broke about the US economy’s contraction.

Also read | Met Gala 2022: Zendaya to not attend, Megan Thee Stallion confirms presence

Since recession struck during the pandemic two years ago, the US shrank for the first time last quarter, experiencing a 0.35% contraction of GDP from January to March, an annualized rate of 1.4%.

With the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine battering the global economy, and record levels of inflation in the US, experts fear that the US economy could be at considerable risk of a downturn.