Kim Kardashian says ‘some people didn’t know who Marilyn Monroe was’ before she wore her dress

Kim Kardashian raised some serious eyebrows after she claimed that certain people hadn’t even heard of Marilyn Monroe until she wore the Hollywood icon’s dress to the Met Gala in 2022.

Kardashian caused controversy in 2022 after she wore Monroe’s original dress to the Met Gala – with some even claiming that she had damaged it by doing so.

The dress in question was the same one Monroe wore in 1962 as she sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday.

And while that performance is famous in its own right, Kardashian made the bold claim that it was in fact her that introduced the Hollywood legend to some people who’d never heard of her before.

Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s famous nude, bejeweled gown to the Met Gala in 2022. Credit: Gotham/Getty Images

The dress was loaned to Kardashian for the red carpet, and she even revealed that she had to lose 16 lbs in weight in just three weeks in order to fit into it.

The precious artifact, which belongs to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, was helped on to the reality star’s body by assistants wearing gloves, and she was only allowed to wear it on the red carpet for the photos, before she had to change into a replica.

After it was returned, visitors noticed what appeared to be some damage to the gown – which Ripley’s denied was down to Kardashian wearing it – and criticized them for allowing the priceless original to be worn at all, instead of making the mom-of-four wear a replica the whole time.

Amid the furor, Kardashian defended her fashion choice on the Today Show, arguing that her decision to wear the dress has reintroduced the iconic actor to a whole new generation, some of whom, astonishingly, were unfamiliar with Marilyn Monroe.

While engaging in a chat with the host Savannah Guthrie, Kardashian shared her shock at discovering that some people on TikTok didn’t even know who Marilyn Monroe was, telling the host: “That was the most shocking thing to me.”

The dress was originally worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962. Credit: Getty

Kardashian praised Ripley’s for providing her with the chance to bring this piece of history back to the limelight, stating: “That’s why I was so happy to at least have that opportunity and that Ripley’s gave me the opportunity to share this moment so that it could live on.”

She further highlighted her deep respect for Monroe and the significance of the dress in American history. She pointed out the Met Gala’s theme – American, and justified her choice of the dress as fitting the theme perfectly, stating: “What is more American than Marilyn Monroe singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the president of the United States.”

Monroe’s iconic dress gained its legendary status after she wore it for a performance in Madison Square Garden in May 1962, a mere three months before her tragic death. In 2016, the dress even set a record as the most expensive dress ever sold at auction, fetching an impressive $4.8 million.

Denying claims that she damaged the historic gown, Kardashian asserted: “No. [Ripley’s and I] worked together so well. There were handlers with gloves that put it on me.” She detailed the careful steps taken to protect the dress, including wearing it for a brief four minutes and changing at the top of the stairs after arriving in a robe and slippers.

Ripley’s also defended its decision to lend the iconic dress to Kardashian, emphasizing its mission to entertain and educate. They expressed that the discourse surrounding Monroe’s dress serves this purpose perfectly.

The company concluded: “No matter which side of the debate you are on, the historical importance of the dress has not been negated, but rather highlighted. An entirely new group of young people has now been introduced to the legacy of Marilyn Monroe.”