2019 Met Gala

Submission 6,263

About

The 2019 Met Gala or the 2019 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit was a formal event held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to raise money for the Costume Institute, the only department of the Met that must fund itself. The festivities are mostly know for the elaborate formal attire worn by the gala’s celebrity guests.

Background

Held on the first Monday in May every year, the Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume department.^[8] To celebrate the festivities, it is generally expected that the high-profit celebrity guests of the event wear some of the most elaborate and outrageous costumes from the fashion world’s biggest names.

On May 6th, 2019, the Met Gala was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City with the theme of "Camp: Notes on Fashion" inspired by the Susan Sontag's^[2] essay "Notes on Camp." The 2019 hosts include Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Serena Williams and Alessandro Michelle. The event was a hit on social media as people offered praise, criticism and jokes about the night’s attendees.

Developments

Online Reaction

Throughout the night, Instagram users began creating object-label memes with the Gala's fashion. On May 6th, Instagram user dyingbutfine^[9] labeled Cardi B's all encompassing dress as "My intrusive thoughts" and Cardi's calm face as "me" (shown below, left). The image received over 1,900 likes in a day. Instagram user Sluttypuffin^[10] posted a side-by side- image of breakfast at Tiffany's comparing it to Hailey Baldwin's dress as Breakfast at Waffle House (shown below, center). The image received over 3,600 likes in a day. The next morning Instagram user Alreadybored.jpg^[11] labeled Ezra Miller's mask as "the wax fruit at on display at IKEA" and Ezra Miller as "Me, peaking on what was definitely not "just a chill microdose" of mushrooms" (shown below, right).

Camp Theme

On May 6th, 2019 many Twitter users discussed their confusion surrounding the theme of "camp." Twitter user @bart_smith^[12] tweeted, "I didn't realize until today that tonight's Met Gala theme "camp" wasn't referring to summer camp. Disappointed that nobody's going to show up wearing, like, a tent or something" (shown below, left). The tweet accumulated over 500 likes. Twitter user @bIackphillip^[13] tweeted a Parent Trap picture with the caption, "my two brain cells seeing that the met gala theme was “camp” and thinking it meant summer camp:" (shown below, right). The tweet gained over 200 retweets and 1,300 likes in a day.

Margaret Cho Live Twitter Commentary

On May 6th, 2019, Comedian Margaret Cho^[14]^[15] provided live Met Gala commentary on Twitter. She commented using puns and jokes for celebrities like Caroline Trentini (shown below, left) which gained over 1,200 likes and Janelle Monae (shown below, right) and accumulated over 6,600 likes in a day.

Frank Ocean

Many Twitter users were quick to notice that Frank Ocean's Prada outfit resembled a security uniform. Twitter user @el_gibbs^[16] posted pictures of Ocean's outfit saying, "Did Frank Ocean get a side gig as security? #MetGala" (shown below, left). The tweet gained over 3,300 likes and 500 retweets in a day. @hunteryharris^[17] tweeted, "frank ocean lookin like he’s about to turn away my ID at a bar in boston" (shown below, right). The tweet garnered over 4,500 likes and 400 retweets in a day.

Jared Leto

American actor Jared Leto arrived at the Gala with a replica of his own head which led to some surprised and mixed reactions. Twitter user @emanomairi_^[18] tweeted, "Why is everyone acting like Jared Leto is special when Gibby did it first?? #MetGala" (shown below, left). The reaction received 2,700 retweets and 10,500 likes in a day. Twitter user @marmol_88^[19] was reminded of Game of Thrones (shown below, right). Their post gained over 600 likes in a day.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga was name a special host of the Gala and arrived in essential four outfits in layers. many people commented on her over-the-top arrival and embodiment of "camp." Twitter user @burncrashhes^[20] posted a photo of her arrival with the caption, "HELLO QUEEN #MetGala2019 #metcamp" (shown below, left) while Twitter user @metgalapolice^[21] commented that "LADY GAGA HAS OFFICIALLY BROKEN THE INTERNET AGAIN #METGALA" with her layered outfit (shown below, right).

Media Coverage

Several media outlets covered the reaction to the Met Gala, including The New York Times^[1], Vogue^[3], Vanity Fair^[4], TIME^[5], HarpersBazaar^[6] and CNN^[7].