Did Kim Kardashian Really Damage the Famous Marilyn Monroe Dress?

American socialite and businesswoman Kim Kardashian has been under fire lately for a number of reasons.

Among them include her decision to divorce rapper Kanye West, her relationship with comedian Pete Davidson, and most recently, her decision to wear the famous “Happy Birthday” dress that Marilyn Monroe was seen donning on May 19, 1962, when she sang on the then president, John F. Kennedy’s birthday.

Marilyn- and the dress itself- holds significant importance to both American culture and history. Social media was ablaze when they spotted Kardashian wearing the dress on the event of the 2022 Met Gala, and public opinion was harsh and divided.

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Now there seems to be another turn in the story. There have been reports that the dress has been “damaged” after Kardashian wore it. The official account of the “Marilyn Monroe Collection” on Instagram posted a before and after of the dress- pointing out that several crystals were missing while others were hanging by a thread, and that the back of the dress seemed, as whole, to be damaged and stretched.

Everyone has since pitched in on the news, with some criticizing not just Kim for wearing the dress, but Ripley’s Museum (who legally own the dress) for lending it to Kim in the first place. Fashion critics, and textile and costume experts have all chimed in with their (mostly negative) opinions.

However, amidst all the chaos that has ensued, Ripley’s claims that the dress has not been damaged, and is, in fact, in perfect condition. As per a 2017 report, several seams were already pulling apart in the dress.

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Ripley’s has since issued a statement that says that, “Our mission is to both entertain and educate visitors and fans, and sparking conversations like the discourse around Marilyn Monroe’s dress does just that.”

Further, they have added, “No matter what side of the debate you are on, the historical importance of the dress has not been negated, but rather highlighted. An entirely new group of young people have now been introduced to the legacy of Marilyn Monroe.”

Finally, Bob Mackie, who illustrated and designed the gown for Monroe, has also slammed Kim for wearing the same. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he has said that it was a “big mistake” for Kim to wear the dress, and that the dress was “done for her (Marilyn). It was designed for her. Nobody else should be seen in that dress.”