Kim Kardashian has recently been accused of damaging Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday’ dress after photos of the damaged dress started swirling on the internet. However, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! addressed the reported damage to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dress. After photos appearing to show damage to Marilyn Monroe’s Jean Louis gown that Kim Kardashian wore to the 2022 Met Gala began circulating online, Ripley’s, the owner of the dress, denied viral allegations that any damage was caused by the dress’ appearance at the May 2 event.
In the recently published article, Ripley’s explained the history of the dress sharing that they first acquired the dress at a Julien’s Auctions event in 2016 for $4.8 million, the most expensive dress to ever be sold at auction. They write that a report on the condition of the dress published in early 2017 states, “a number of the seams are pulled and worn. This is not surprising given how delicate the material is. There is puckering at the back by the hooks and eyes,” as well as outlining other flaws.
Ripley’s insists that no further damage occurred in the short time Kardashian wore it. Ripley’s also addressed questions circulating about their decision to loan out such a valuable dress in the first place. “There is no disputing the fragility of the dress and there was a calculated risk associated with wearing it, but Ripley’s has been collecting notable pop culture memorabilia, historical items, and unbelievable artifacts for years,” the company shared in a statement.
As for any payment transactions, Ripley’s claims, “Kim Kardashian did not pay Ripley’s Believe It or Not! to wear the dress, nor did the company pay her. Rather, Kardashian made a charitable donation to two charities in the greater Orlando area on behalf of the company.” Despite Ripley’s statement, some users seem to question the decision to have the dress worn at all.
The dress, which Kardashian wore for just mere minutes while taking photos on the red carpet before changing into a replica, is currently on display at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Hollywood, California, where it will remain through the fall. Images of the reported damage were first posted online by Marilyn Monroe historian and collector Scott Fortner earlier this week.
ALSO READ – Kim Kardashian Slammed For Damaging Marilyn Monroe Dress