Believe it or not, Kim Kardashian takes credit for introducing Marilyn Monroe to new audience
The Kardashians have leveraged their wealth to acquire fame, adoration, additional fortunes, and even the iconic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe during her memorable rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the president.
Following a brief appearance wearing the dress at the 2022 Met Gala, Kim, the second-born in the Kardashian family, attributes herself to reintroducing the blonde bombshell to a new generation, revealing that humility cannot simply be purchased with money.
Continue reading to discover Kim Kardashian’s remarks regarding the legendary Marilyn Monroe!
Marilyn Monroe’s influence on Hollywood and popular culture endures, transcending her untimely passing at 36. Her films garnered immense acclaim, and her celebrity status only grew stronger after her death.
Official reports deemed her 1962 passing a likely suicide, linked to her battles with addiction and mood disorders.
Her status as a cultural icon remains indisputable. Even decades following her passing, she continues to be a revered figure in popular culture.
On May 19, 1962, the sole individual who eclipsed the president on his birthday was Monroe, who graced the stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden and softly crooned the tune, “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy.
The audience was captivated as the star of Gentleman Prefer Blondes gracefully shed her white fur jacket, unveiling the flesh-toned gown that clung to her figure.
Since then, the bespoke dress, which Monroe purportedly acquired for $1,440, has appreciated to a multi-million-dollar valuation. It has been safeguarded in a dim, climate-controlled vault and is now on display for the public at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Florida.
No one had dared to don the dress since Monroe’s iconic performance.
That is until Kim Kardashian, aged 43, made the bold decision to showcase the dress at the 2022 Met Gala, where she was accompanied by her former beau, Pete Davidson.
In an interview with Vogue, Kardashian elucidated her fashion selection for the prestigious occasion: “What embodies American culture more than Marilyn Monroe?” remarks the reality TV luminary. “To me, her rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ to JFK epitomizes that essence.”
When the historic garment was airlifted via private jet from its sanctuary at Ripley’s in Orlando, Florida, to Kardashian’s residence in Calabasas, it failed to conform to her figure. “The dress arrived under the watchful eye of guards, and I had to don gloves just to try it on,” she reveals. “I always envisioned her as incredibly curvaceous. I anticipated that my proportions might differ—perhaps smaller in areas where she was fuller and vice versa. So, when it didn’t fit, I felt an overwhelming urge to weep because alterations were out of the question.”
Instead of opting to wear a different piece for the gala, and with only a few months to go, Kardashian decided to shed some pounds. “I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein,” she explains. “I didn’t starve myself, but I was so strict.”
The next month, she visited the Ripley vaults for the final fitting and the stunning dress fit perfectly. “I wanted to cry tears of joy when it went up,” she says.
The dress was on loan to Kardashian and she would only wear it on the red carpet, afterwards slipping into replica.
On the day of the Met Gala, held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kardashian arrived in a dressing gown and then, assisted by a white glove-wearing conservationist from Ripley’s, she changed into the dress. “I showed up to the red carpet in a robe and slippers,…I put the dress on [at] the bottom of the carpet, went up the stairs. I probably had it on for four minutes and then I changed right at the top of the stairs,” says Kardashian, who changed again into the replica once off the carpet and up the stairs.
Introducing Monroe to new generations, Kim Kardashian, during an appearance on Today to promote her skincare line, expressed astonishment that some individuals, particularly those in the Gen Z demographic on TikTok, were unfamiliar with the timeless sex symbol, whose legacy endures.
In her conversation with host Savannah Guthrie, Kardashian referenced her excitement about wearing the exquisite gown at the Met Gala and acknowledged Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for affording her the opportunity to perpetuate Monroe’s legacy.
“It was truly surprising to me, and that’s why I was so delighted… and grateful that Ripley’s allowed me to share this moment so that it could endure,” Kardashian remarked. “I hold her in high regard, and I recognize the significance of this dress in American history.”
Following the clip’s circulation on YouTube, fans voiced outrage over Kardashian wearing the dress and seemingly taking credit for Monroe’s enduring popularity.
“You were shocked that some people didn’t even know who Marilyn was lol girl bye,” comments one fan.
Another shares, “People don’t know who Marilyn Monroe was? So, what is Kim trying to say, that she needed to introduce Marilyn to the world? Lol.”
A third, suggesting the dress’s memory has been tarnished, adds, “She is really seeking positive public recognition and the respect the dress deserves. It has been tainted.”
Meanwhile, another user suggests people refrain from relying solely on TikTok for information. The user writes, “Some people need to stop living on TikTok if they don’t know who Marilyn Monroe is!”
Even if you weren’t around in the 50s and 60s, Marilyn Monroe’s enduring impact on Hollywood and pop culture is undeniable.
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