My religion is not your designer ball gown. Nor is it meant to be fetish art.
At the 2018 Met Gala, hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, the theme of the show, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” was taken and blatantly exploited by the celebrity guests in designer outfits meant to channel religious themes taken from Catholicism. Among some of the more atrocious examples of attire included singer Rihanna’s papal-inspired dress, complete with a mitre, and actor Chadwick Boseman’s suit, meant to be a “walking altar.”
But even that wasn’t the worst offense. In a photo shoot released on Twitter, singer Miley Cyrus showed herself in a plain black gown posing with a cross, a crown, and a crucifix. She then bit the crucifix. Her high heels were also formed in the shape of crosses, while a tiny cross adorned her behind.
Imagine the outrage that would have ensued if Cyrus had bitten an Islamic symbol. She would have had to apologize publicly by now (not to mention going into hiding).
Other celebrities tried to stir up controversy. Actress Lena Waithe wore a gay pride flag, while Madonna (who has expressed plenty of contempt for her faith in performances past) gave an impromptu version of her hit song, “Like a Prayer.” Using Gregorian chant in the background as extras dressed as monks stripped her costume away from her, the singer segued into a version of “Hallelujah.” Vogue lauded her as a “goddess.”
Talk about the surreal irony of some of Hollywood’s wealthiest, most debauched individuals trying to channel religions imagery and figures. Heaven help us all.
Some of the objects in the apparently Catholic-inspired fashion exhibit at the Museum took the “influence” a little too far. A BDSM bondage mask, covered with Catholic rosaries, was on display. According to the Washington Post, while the exhibit’s curator, Andrew Bolton, initially wanted to incorporate Islam and Judaism into the show, he “decided to focus on Catholicism.”
If someone had made a BDSM mask out of Islamic prayer beads, the outcry from groups across America would be overwhelming. Why are they targeting Catholicism?
