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Met Gala 2021: AOC slammed for 'TAX THE RICH' gown at $35k-a-ticket event

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s outfit for Met Gala was painted with a political message and in giant red letters. Her gown was designed by Brother Vellies

While artists like Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish and Grimes got all the attention for their stunning outfits at this year’s Met Gala, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez too managed to hog the limelight with her powerful message for the rich. The Democratic-Socialist congresswoman decided to make a statement as she descended on the red carpet packed with millionaires.

The 31-year-old politician, who has time and again managed to stay in headlines, was trending all over the Internet after she was photographed at the 2021 Met Gala in her white gown that read the message “TAX THE RICH” at the back.  Ocasio-Cortez’s outfit with the giant red letters was designed by Brother Vellies. Social media users soon got into an argument over Ocasio-Cortez’s political statement debating whether this was the right move or not. For the unversed, Ocasio-Cortez has been at the forefront of the battle for income equality for long.
 
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Ocasio-Cortez got slammed by the New York Times fashion director and critic Vanessa Freidman on Twitter as she shared the politician’s photo and dragged her over attending an event that costs $35K per ticket while conveying the message of taxing the rich. “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attending the $35,000-a-ticket #MetGala in a Brother Vellies gown blaring "Tax the Rich" is a complicated proposition.
 
Ocasio-Cortez, who was joined by Brother Vellies creative director Aurora James at the red carpet of Met Gala 2021, spoke to host Keke Palmer where she spoke about breaking the fourth wall and not playing along. “We really started having a conversation about what it means to be a working class woman of color at the Met ... we can’t just play along, but we need to break the fourth wall.” James, on the other hand, too shared her opinion on powerful fashion, “We can never get too comfortable in our seats at the table once they’ve been given”, adding, “We must always continue to push ourselves, push our colleagues, push the culture and push the country forward. Fashion is changing, America is changing. And as far as this theme goes, I think Alexandria and I are a great embodiment of the language fashion needs to consider adding to the general lexicon as we work towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and empowered future”, as reported by Vogue.

‘She's at the f**king Met Gala wearing couture’

Social media users were not having AOC sending across a message when she was surrounded by the richest of the richest. While calling her out on Twitter, one user said, “She's literally at a party full of privileged rich people wearing gowns and suits worth tens of thousands. And she's partying shoulder to shoulder with them~ she didn't decline the invite to hobnob with spoiled celebs.” Whereas, another shared, “A big fan, but seeing some contradictory messages being sent here. Maybe next time #AOC should host an alternative “Justice for All” gala. And invite The People.”

One added, “To be its about performative politics, which seems to be the majority of what politicians do now a days. a lot of ppl want to tax the rich so promoting that message isnt necessarily what that policy front needs right now.” The next one stated, “Is this the sort of marketing rich people do so they can appeal to the poor on Instagram?” On the other hand, one troller her saying, “Does she know she’s surrounded by“rich people”? Lol” One user posted, “This implies that everyone is blind to this policy suggestion. Most Americans support it. I’m sure the rich are aware and laughing about it.” While another concluded, “You all think she's against the rich... she's at the f**king Met Gala wearing couture, she is one of them. Don't think differently for a single second.”