Kim Kardashian is going viral once again over the way she fit into Marilyn Monroe’s iconic gold dress.
The reality star famously wore the exact gown Monroe donned in 1962 while singing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy, stepping out in the historic piece at the 2022 Met Gala alongside then-boyfriend Pete Davidson.
At the time, the mom of four faced backlash not only for wearing such a fragile, archival garment, but also for the extreme measures she took to fit into it—reportedly losing 16 pounds. The decision to allow the dress to be worn also sparked criticism from textile experts and organizations like the International Council of Museums.
Kim Kardashian Slammed Over ‘Damaging’ Marilyn Monroe Dress In Resurfaced Clip
Now, a resurfaced video has reignited the controversy. In the clip, Kardashian’s team can be seen helping her squeeze into the dress, encouraging her to pull it up and adjust it around her body. While she ultimately managed to get it on, viewers pointed out that the fabric appeared strained in the back, with some claiming it looked damaged.
Social media users quickly flooded the comments with reactions.
“Why not just get something that actually fits?” one person wrote. Another added, “Marilyn didn’t have all that silicone.”
Others were more critical, with comments like, “This is from when she destroyed Marilyn Monroe’s dress,” and “She only wore it to walk up the stairs and then changed—should’ve left that dress in peace.”
“Marilyn rolled in her grave,” one user wrote, while another added, “She made it look so tacky—Marilyn would never.”
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Kim Kardashian Addresses 'Damaging' Marilyn Monroe' Dress
However, the museum has consistently denied that the Skims mogul caused any damage to the dress. Ripley's Believe It or Not!—which owns the iconic Marilyn Monroe gown—stated that the piece was returned in the same condition it was in before she wore it.
While side-by-side images circulated online appeared to show missing crystals and stressed seams, Ripley’s maintained that some of that wear and tear already existed. In fact, a 2017 report cited prior damage, including pulled seams and issues near the hooks and closures. The controversy intensified after historian Scott Fortner shared photos alleging new damage following the Met Gala.
Ripley’s pushed back on those claims, stating, “The dress was in the same condition when it was returned to the Met steps as it was when it was taken off.” The 45-year-old also addressed the rumors months later during a lie detector interview with Vanity Fair, alongside her All’s Fair co-star Teyana Taylor. When asked directly, “Did you whoop Marilyn Monroe’s dress?” she repeatedly answered “no.”
“So you're saying that it got you already whooped?” Taylor pressed. “I don't know how it got to me,” Kardashian responded. “But it's perfect now.”
When asked who may have repaired the alleged damage, Kardashian said she didn’t know. She joked, “You're gonna cost me $10M in insurance. Let's move on.”
