2024 Met Gala

*Disclaimer: Not my usual content. I never post controversial things.

I waited until I was calm and sound of mind before posting this. Yes, I made it in bitterness, which is already out of character for me. Usually, I write a vague poem to express my emotions, but I wanted to say something about this. So, I told myself if I still felt like I needed to get this off my chest come evening, then I'd post it.

Some of you might have a difference of opinion, and that's fine. I'm just using my very small platform and small voice to express some triggering matters for not just myself, but thousands of people in the U.S. right now.*

At first, I didn't care.

Whatever, another event for celebrities to parade around in bizarre outfits and make a mockery of themselves.

Until this:

"Let them eat cake."

Those words have triggered the wrath of a majority of the lower class.

The celebrities aren't making a mockery of themselves this year.

They're mocking us.

Sorry, let me backtrack.

For those who don't know, the Met Gala is an exclusive charity event where celebrities pay thousands of dollars to dress up in outlandish costumes centered on a theme. Witnessing the creative ideas that celebrities and stylists come up with is usually entertaining, but this year it was a shock to many. Infuriating, even.

If you're thinking, well, it's going to charity, so it must be good.

The beneficiary of the proceeds is the Metro Museum of Arts and Costume Institute (which is where the Met Gala is held). More than $543 million dollars are going to fund costumes, when there are homelessness, schools, healthcare, and other humanitarian organizations to give those donations to.

That's issue number one.

Number two is this year's Met Gala theme was The Garden of Time, which is a short story written in 1962 by J.G. Ballard.

The story goes:

There once was a Count and Countess who lived in luxury and wealth. They had a unique garden where magical flowers grew that, when plucked, could alter time. The villa they lived in was a grand, majestic retreat secluded from society, with the sun shining directly on their mansion and boasting the scent of clean air. Unlike the expanse beyond their property, where there was nothing but a dull, open plane devoid of any signs of life.

As the couple were taking a stroll in their garden, blissfully enjoying its richness, they spotted a mob of angry people marching in their direction. Not just soldiers, but civilians, too; men and women.

When the horde reached an uncomfortable proximity to the couple's property, the Count picked one of his magical flowers, and the flock of people was yanked back as time reversed.

Only the mob kept coming.

And so, the Count repeated the process, picking another flower, and another, and another. Each time, the throng would come back, bigger and advancing faster.

The abundance of magical flowers, emblematic of the couple's timeless lives, was rapidly becoming sparse. It wasn't long before all that was left was one, and the couple knew their time had come.

As the horde finally breached their parameters, time eventually caught up with the Count and his wife. Their once lush and grand estate crumbled to ruins and was instantly overtaken by a tangled mass of thorn bushes.

What became of the Count and the Countess?

They had turned to stone.

So, now that you know the story, let's go back to the 2024 Met Gala.

Symbolism at its finest, wouldn't you agree?

Each celebrity had either dressed as the timeless garden or as the Count or Countess.

Do you think they knew what they were doing?

Do you think they realized the message they were sending, demonstrating where they stood in this story? Stood to society?

Do you think they were intentionally mocking and provoking us?

Part of me wonders if they're aware of the tragic resolution to that story... because it doesn't end well for them.

Issue number three:

"Let them eat cake."

Infamous quote.

Who was attributed to those words again?

Oh, right. Marie Antoinette. A cold and unsympathetic response after hearing about her people suffering from starvation.

Hmm, and what happened to her?

.

.

.

I think you all know where I'm going with this.

Say what you will about the event, but there's no defending the celebrities after that. It's clear as day that they're mocking us.

Little did Haylee Baylee realize the chaos she would create by using that expression, and all because she wanted content to promote her Marie Anoitnette-inspired attire at the Met Gala. It was distasteful.

If you think this is bad, just wait.

It gets worse.

They're literally in the same dress!

Hmm, let's play spot the similarities.

There are so many more outfits that seem to be inspired by the Capital from The Hunger Games that I didn't share, but you can find them on Vogue. This isn't the first time people have noticed similarities between the movie and reality. I'll admit that. However, with the theme, the influencer promoting Marie Antoinette, and the Hunger Games parallels, it feels like a major fuck you to the lower class.

Our economy is in the trash, food prices have gone up, companies aren't hiring, and a lot of us are barely scraping by to keep a roof over our heads. And where do they decide these millions from the event should go? Costumes.

While these celebrities might not be our government and therefore aren't responsible for our suffering, they do have influence. They knew where the money they were donating was going. Do they care? Doesn't look like it. What are they choosing to do with the elevated platforms that fans helped them earn? They decide to attend an event where the theme is the clash of social classes, expressing their stance in their costumes, and telling us to eat cake.

People are fuming. People are retaliating. They're blocking every celebrity, sponsor, fashion designer, and any other brand that attended or promoted the event.

The movement isn't just to riot about the unfairness of their fame and wealth. It’s not about envy, or greed. It’s about history repeating itself. It’s about turning a blind eye to society’s issues, and mocking it by playing dressing up at a bougie event. It's to give them a taste of their own "cake".

Are we still living in the U.S.? Because I feel like we should be calling it Panem.

Anyway, that's my rant. I'd like for this to reach more people so they can join the blocking movement, but even if this reaches one or two people, I’m glad I said my part.