The Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Gala, is an annual fundraising gala that benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. This black-tie extravaganza has tickets that cost $30,000 a piece and features some of Hollywood's most successful stars such as Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Katy Perry, and more. This year's gala was hosted by Anna Wintour, Rihanna, Donatella Versace and Amal Clooney.
So what's the big talk about this year's event? The theme: "Heavenly Bodies and the Catholic Imagination." Although I'm not Catholic, but Eastern Orthodox, this concern applies to all Christians.
I have one response to this theme: my religion is not your fashion statement.
First of all, "The Catholic Imagination?" The title itself sounds like mockery. The Christian faith isn't a figment of our imagination, thanks.
It's a way of life and beliefs we live by every day, not something we just came up with 2000 years ago.
Celebrities came to the gala dressed as popes, angels, knights and the like. Former Nickelodeon star Ariana Grande, wearing a Vera Wang gown, said that she represented “the back wall of the Sistine Chapel” and felt “fairly important in this outfit." The Sistine Chapel is located in Vatican City, one of the most famous and important places in the history of Christianity and Catholicism. It is a place of worship and home to one of the most renowned works of art in the High Renaissance, of which the "Creation of Adam" is best known on the chapel's ceiling.
What I find ironic about Ariana's attire is that she refused to be a part of the Roman Catholic Church after they took their stance against homosexuality, which she highly disagreed with. So if she abandoned practicing her faith, can someone please tell me why she feels "important" wearing a dress that represents sacred Catholic artwork? She had made it clear she no longer wished to be associated with this faith beforehand and used the caption, "I went to da met and was super Italian" on her Instagram photo.
It is disrespectful to faithful Christians to see one of the world's wonders, which is not allowed to be photographed in person by visiting tourists, sacrilegiously displayed on a dress. It's not about being Italian, Ariana.
See also: Why I, As A Catholic, Celebrate The Met Gala Theme This Year
Next on the list of offensive celebrity attire is Rihanna's Pope-chic dress adorned with crosses and complete with a papal headdress. This is the absolute mockery of the Pope, who is among the holiest ranks of Catholicism.
The only person who may dress this way is the one who actually holds this position— the Pope himself.
Women are not even allowed to wear cassocks or vestments, as they are strictly reserved for priests and those serving in the church. Nowhere have I seen her publicly discuss what religion she identifies with or seen an example of her practicing any faith. She may have a cross tattooed on her neck, but Christians do not sing about sex and money, show promiscuity, and publish highly inappropriate music.
Sorry, Rihanna, you do not get to represent Christianity in an overly bejeweled dress whose length would not be acceptable to wear in any church.
What angers Christians of all denominations around the world about the MetGala is that celebrities who are not even religious wear crosses, garments from the Vatican itself, and play dress-up as highly important figures in our history and faith as if it's all for show. The hosts of this gala and people in attendance don't understand the meaning behind all of this. The cross you flash around on your dress? That's the cross I wear around my neck every day for spiritual protection. Why? Because it represents the cross that Christ was willingly crucified on and later resurrected for the sake of our sins and eternal life.
We're disgusted because the religion we hold so dearly to our souls is now displayed as as a secular fashion statement for everyone to gawk at and pay $30,000 to see in person. Christ never taught us to flaunt our beliefs, but rather to be humble and respectful. If this was any other major religion depicted, there would be mass outrage as well. Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus alike do not appreciate having their religious symbols and attire put on to answer a question of "who dressed the best tonight?"
Before you come up with a theme, please remember who you're offending. We live in a country where we are trying so hard to be respectful of all the different groups of people living in our diverse country, only to turn around and go against all of those teachings of respect.
Sincerely,
The Christian who is not amused with your fashion show.
