Kim Kardashian accused of 'irreparably damaging' Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress

The reality star wore the vintage dress on this year’s Met Gala

Kim Kardashian was recently accused of damaging the 60-year-old Marilyn Monroe dress she wore to the 2022 Met Gala. The dress, which holds immense importance in American and Hollywood history, was worn by the icon, Marilyn when she sang ‘Happy Birthday’ for President John F. Kennedy. The dress had been bought by Ripley’s Believe It or Not for nearly five million dollars back in 2016. 

Despite Kim and the Ripley’s franchise claiming that they ensured the dress was preserved and protected, they have been accused of ‘irreparably damaging’ Marilyn's sheer dress. Before it was loaned to Kim, the dress had a hand sewn crystal or two missing and the dress was in almost perfect condition. However, when it was returned, there were several crystals missing, some hanging by the thread. There were tears in the delicate silk souffle fabric that was near the zipper and clasps, suggesting the dress was not a perfect fit. Along with that, one of the straps had also been damaged. The tears in the dress are irreparable as the production of the special French-made silk weave fabric is discontinued. 

“It’s a cultural icon. It’s a political icon. It’s a Hollywood icon. It’s not just a dress, it’s a part of American history … and it’ll never be the same,” said the Marilyn Monroe historian and collector, Scott Fortner. 

Chad Michael Morrisette, the visual artist and creative director who had previously worked with the dress in 2016 had taken the pictures of the damaged dress. “It literally broke my heart to see the damage that she did to that,” he said. “She stole that moment of history and I’m so mad about it.” 

Social media is not having it either, with many users angry about the damage done to such an iconic dress by someone who they deem undeserving of wearing it.