Kim Kardashian, the reality TV star, made headlines after donning Marilyn Monroe’s legendary ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ dress.
She stirred up controversy by appearing at the Met Gala in the exact dress Monroe famously wore during her performance for John F. Kennedy in 1962. Monroe was reportedly sewn into the dress for the occasion.
Kardashian faced criticism not only for losing 16 pounds in three weeks but also for allegedly damaging the historic dress.
There have been claims that Kardashian wearing the dress led to fraying and the loss of beads from the iconic garment.
However, the most surprising fallout came when Kim revealed that some people did not know who Monroe was until she wore the dress.
On the Today Show, host Savannah highlighted this revelation to Kardashian: “We were just talking, you said you were shocked on TikTok, some people don’t even know who Marilyn Monroe was.”
Kardashian responded: “That was the most shocking thing to me and that’s why I was so happy to at least have that opportunity and that Ripley’s gave me the opportunity to share this moment so that it could live on.”
Monroe wore the iconic dress at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1962, just months before her death from an overdose.
Kim further stated: “I respect her and I understand how much this dress means to American history. With the theme being American, I thought what is more American than Marilyn Monroe singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the president of the United States.”
She explained: “It was such a process.
“I showed up to the red carpet in a robe and slippers.
“I put the dress on at the bottom of the carpet, went up the stairs, I probably had it on for four minutes, and then I changed right at the top of the stairs.”
Kim insisted that the dress remains undamaged despite previous reports.
She stated: “No. [Ripley’s and I] worked together so well.
“There was handlers and gloves that put it on me.”
Kardashian previously told Vogue about her weight loss journey, explaining that she lost 16 pounds (approximately 1.14 stone) by wearing a sauna suit twice daily, running on a treadmill, eliminating sugar and carbs, and eating clean vegetables and protein.
Addressing the criticism, Kim added: “I’m not trying to lose any more weight but I have more energy than ever. I cut out so much sugar, a lot of junk food I was eating.
“I just completely changed my lifestyle.”