Following the generally positive brouhaha over major celebrities decked out in Roman Catholic inspired ware at this year’s annual Met Gala event in New York City, some critics have responded to what they describe as irreverent use of religious iconography, saying it is disrespectful to Christianity and Christians.
This year’s theme ‘Heavenly Bodies — Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’, had on display big names from Kim Kardashian to Katy Perry to Rihanna to Madonna regaled in vestment themed clothing bordering on the risqué and at times pornographic, that many Catholics and Christians in general, from high profile pundit Piers Morgan to regular Twitter users, have found to be in poor taste.
A particular complaint is the observation that the celebrities would not have dared giving a similar treatment to Islam.
The Costume Institute Gala (also known as the Met Ball) is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City.
It holds every first Monday in May, marking the grand opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibit.
But many watchers apparently were having none of the usual lighthearted frivolities this year, as they judged the displays to be tawdry, inappropriate, and a case of “religious appropriation”.
Here are some of the reactions we’ve been following:
We start with a triple opening salvo from the always outspoken Piers:
*NEW:
The Met Gala cowards would never have dared do this to Islam or Judaism.
Shame on them for lampooning Catholicism. https://t.co/mWaNAlk00o pic.twitter.com/c6WdGktmsY— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2018
Good afternoon Holy Father @Pontifex – I'm very disappointed the Vatican approved last night's Catholic-mocking Met Gala.
Please read my column to understand why: https://t.co/mWaNAlk00o pic.twitter.com/6pmyA8DJ3b— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2018
*NEW COLUMN*
If the Met Gala was Islam or Jewish-themed, all hell would break loose – so why was it OK for a bunch of flesh-flashing celebrities to disrespect MY religion?https://t.co/aXXTl8P5eE pic.twitter.com/MiLLlJFaSu— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2018
I’m calling this religious appropriation. This isn’t “fashion”. This is my faith. Stop. Just stop. #metgala #rihanna pic.twitter.com/k4MkQLxfFY
— Megan (@Megan_SEAS) May 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/0canom/status/993596057220239360
Angry Catholics accuse Met Gala of 'religious appropriation' over theme https://t.co/cXvLwdDfPs
— The Independent (@Independent) May 8, 2018
so according to #Progressives "cultural appropriation" is real & inappropriate… but religious appropriation is fine???#MetGala18 #MetGala #MetGala2018 pic.twitter.com/sp7qROL8t5
— Doc Thompson (@DocThompsonShow) May 8, 2018
Is nobody else surprised by the lack of backlash about these stars wearing catholic inspired outfits to the met gala cause y’all damn know if it was a different religion we’d be freaking tf out
— kat (@katherine_selby) May 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/AFashBoy/status/993644290302726145
Are you trying to tell me that celebrities can dress for the Met Gala with religious themed clothes and everyone LOVES it but a young girl where’s a Chinese dress to prom and everyone is suddenly screaming “Cultural Appropriation!” ?????
— •__• (@leigha_brookexo) May 8, 2018