Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dress has been “significantly damaged” and is “irreparable” after Kim Kardashian wore it briefly to the 2022 Met Gala, a collector claimed.
The Hollywood legend famously wore the dress when she sang “Happy Birthday” to former President John F. Kennedy on his birthday in 1962. It has since been preserved until the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star wore it in May to the annual gala. Collector Scott Fortner has called the decision by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! to allow the reality star to wear it “irresponsible” and more, Yahoo News reported in a piece published Tuesday.
“I do feel that it [was] irresponsible, this is not just a dress,” Fortner explained. “This is a cultural icon. It’s a political icon. It’s a Hollywood icon. It’s part of American history from an event that happened 60 years ago and … it should have been archived and preserved and taken care of.”
“I think the disappointment that I’m experiencing is Ripley has made multiple statements that they were doing everything that they could to protect and preserve the gown,” he added.
Fortner, who is the curator of the world’s largest private collection of Monroe’s personal property and archives, shared several before and after photos on his Instagram of the sparkling, sleeveless form-fitted gown embellished with thousands of crystals, noting how after the reality star wore the dress it was now “missing crystals” with some “left hanging by a thread.”
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
He also shared that the damage is “irreparable” because the fabric no longer exists.
View this post on Instagram
“So much for keeping ‘the integrity of the dress and the preservation’,” the collector shared in his post. “Was it worth it? Without question, the damage is significant.”
View this post on Instagram
Fortner made it clear that he wasn’t upset with “The Kardashians” star for wearing it, but with Ripley’s for loaning out a piece of Hollywood history.
“I think a lot of people are really kind of coming down really hard on Kim Kardashian and that’s not my attempt here. It’s the most famous dress in the world,” the collector told Yahoo News.
According to Yahoo News, after the gala, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! responded to the initial backlash about allowing the dress to be worn and said, “Great care was taken to preserve this piece of pop culture history. This was no easy decision for Ripley’s, however, Kim Kardashian has continued to show the utmost respect for this opportunity and historic garment.”