While the general who's-who of America's elite party on at the Met Gala, the fashion event (and fundraiser) of the year is being lambasted for its theme.
As the US suffers through staggering inflation, many on social media have drawn a comparison between the 2022 Met Gala's 'Gilded Glamour and White Tie' theme and the ongoing economic struggles for rest of the country.
One user tweeted: "Am I the only one who thinks this years Met Gala theme is out of touch?
"Inequality is at the highest levels since the Gilded Age, a pandemic and economic meltdown wrecked us, inflation is out of control… but cool, let’s wear Gilded Age themed dresses and laugh about inequality.
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"This year’s theme is a slap in the face to average Americans.".
But that wasn't the only tweet pointing out the savage juxtaposition of modern day America, the world, and the Met Gala.
Another social media user pointed out the irony of such a theme amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, adding: "Gilded Glamour at a time of war, let them eat cake."
Those last four words add a sting to this year's Met Gala festivities and reference French queen Marie Antionette's famous alleged quote in the lead-up to the French revolution.
Antionette was also known for her outrageous sense of fashion, earning her the nickname 'Madame Déficit', with the French people seeing her as a symbol to their crumbling economy.
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Another person on social media went as far as noting that the theme seems to be engineered to infuriate.
"The Met Gala this year is going to piss off people. The theme being Gilded Glamour and with everything going on this year... people will be mad," they wrote.
According to The Guardian, the US economy shrank last quarter for the first time in two years.
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American gross domestic product fell roughly 0.35 per cent over the January to March period, which equates to an annualised rate of 1.4 per cent.
Experts have attributed this fall in GDP to rising inflation, the Covid-19 Omicron variant, and supply chain issues as possible factors.
Economists also attribute blame to rising inflation and economic contraction, with the US economy at significant risk of a downturn.
This is an especially sensitive time as Russia's Ukraine continues to slam the global economy.
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So it's understandable that loads of Americans aren't exactly cool with the idea of A-list celebrities putting on their best Gilded Glamour looks in this current fiscal climate.
Rachel Lang