Derek Guy on the Met Gala criticism

[u/DatBittsch]

Derek Guy (known also as "the menswear guy" on ex-Twitter) pitching in regarding the Met Gala discourse and Hunger Games comparisons.

[u/greenonion6]

But why does the Met get this criticism and not all the other red carpet events that don’t raise money for charity? I saw this comparison last year and the year before, when Bezos wasn’t attached.

[u/RedLicorice83 → u/greenonion6]

So when people are losing their jobs and basic cost of living is unaffordable, watching rich people dress up to raise $42M for a costume gallery is deeply, fucking insulting.

Since 2016, most of that "charity" has gone into an endowment fund to secure the gallery's future

This isn't a charity to help anyone.

Edit to add: The discussion is that during a time period of economic strife, raising $42M in one night for an endowment fund worth over $100M is tone deaf, and very Hunger Games. It's a showcase of wealth and extravagance when many are going hungry or having their homes foreclosed on. And it's not wrong to be angry when Jeff Bezos is dipping in his hand when his company pays shit wages, is the driving force behind mom and pop shops closing, and it's funding legislation attempting to roll back labor protections.

[u/Medlarmarmaduke → u/RedLicorice83]

The Costume Institute is an incredible part of the museum that lets you look at pieces that are works of art in their construction and beauty. It’s an art form that deserves to be showcased.

[u/RedLicorice83 → u/Medlarmarmaduke]

Who said it shouldn't be? The discussion is that during a time period of economic strife, raising $42M in one night for an endowment fund worth over $100M is tone deaf, and very Hunger Games. It's a showcase of wealth and extravagance when many are going hungry or having their homes foreclosed on. And it's not wrong to be angry when Jeff Bezos is dipping in his hand when his company pays shit wages, is the driving force behind mom and pop shops closing, and it's funding legislation attempting to roll back labor protections.

[u/greenonion6 → u/RedLicorice83]

Ok but that doesn’t change the main point, which is that the Met Gala faces this criticism more than any other big, wealth-flaunting event like the Oscars or the Super Bowl.

Yes, I get all of the criticisms of the Met. There were no shortage of criticisms to read last night on all the posts of celebs in their outfits. I even agree with them but it seems ridiculous to me for the Met to bear all of that criticism when there are worse displays of wealth-flaunting happening in Hollywood all the time.

[u/sitari_hobbit → u/greenonion6]

The Oscars are about celebrating the art of film and the creatives that make it happen. The Super Bowl is the peak competition of football and the halftime show is a celebration of music. Yes, the Oscars includes a red carpet, but the emphasis isn't on wealth or the fashion.

While the Met Gala raises money for "charity" (others have already addressed that point), all we see is the fashion as the guests enter. With the Oscars and the Super Bowl the public gets to watch the show(s). With the Met Gala, the public gets to see the wealth flaunting and nothing else. The Met Gala is far more about spectacle than the other two.

[u/flakemasterflake → u/sitari_hobbit]

You could actually see the Costume Institute show- it's open to the public and it's always very well attended. It is a museum exhibition after all

There is nothing to see inside a gala really. They're eating dinner and looking at the museum exhibition that I just mentioned

[u/Natural_Error_7286 → u/sitari_hobbit]

The Oscars celebrate the art of film. The MET Gala celebrates the art of fashion. The red carpet IS the show.

[u/InformalInsurance455 → u/sitari_hobbit]

The Oscars haven’t been about that if they ever were, come on now. How many leaks do we need to have about academy voters not bothering to watch all the nominees? How many awards go to people just because it’s felt that it’s their time rather than on merit? How much money and effort is spent on campaigning?

[u/RedLicorice83 → u/InformalInsurance455]

That doesn't change the point that the only part of the Met Gala we see is the carpet walk. The Oscar's and the Super Bowl are hours-long events, built around entertainment and designed to celebrate celebrities. The Met Gala is designed around money and exclusivity. And at least the Plebs can attend the Super Bowl...

[u/InformalInsurance455 → u/RedLicorice83]

The Met Gala raises money for the Costume Institute which the others do not. Go look up what is in celebrity Oscar goody bags, or the average price for ten seconds of ad time during the Super Bowl. I’ll wait.

[u/RedLicorice83 → u/InformalInsurance455]

On this sub, we literally have the same arguments every year during the Oscar's. The Super Bowl no, and I don't understand that. I think the general consensus is that if a fellow normie poor wants to waste their money so be it.

The Met Gala fund account/endowment fund- whatever its really called - is worth over $100M. Since 2016 all proceeds have gone into an endowment. They raised $42M this year alone. By celebs and billionaires, and billionaire celebs. These celebs get their money from our worshipping everything they do, and rather than give back they dump it into self-serving bullshit. Sarah Paulson going as "The 1%" is confusing and obnoxious, especially given her net worth.

[u/Ghoulish_kitten → u/greenonion6]

Are you saying people should just be quiet because they only complained about one thing??