Chantel Rodriguez

Staff writer 

cvr5570@psu.edu

The Met Gala 2021 was nothing short of fashion surprises, with the theme this year as “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” to celebrate American independence. Representative of New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or AOC, accompanied dress designer and founder of Brother Vellies Aurora James in the biggest night of fashion and did more than turn heads. 

AOC sparked controversy from all sides with her political fashion statement. She proudly wore a floor-length white gown with the bolded words in red of ‘Tax the Rich’ on it and her clutch purse. 

Many critics and individuals on social media platforms felt that attending an elite event was performative and hypocritical, with a $30,000 per person ticket admission. 

AOC has continued to stand by her proposals to tax the rich to decrease income inequality, which is why she chose to attend and publicly make that statement in the best fashionable way. 

Most people fail to realize, or even acknowledge, that the Met belongs and has always been for the people. Living in the NYC area, you have the ability to go to the Met Gala for as much money as you’d like to put forth, as it is a fundraising event. 

Nevertheless, along with other public officials who also participated in the Gala, AOC was comped tickets and had the opportunity to donate to the Museum’s Costume Institute.

  A worldwide publicized event, such as the Met Gala, is where the statement of taxing the rich makes the most sense. It brought about the opportunity to have that conversation with the most influential and wealthy individuals who are the very same people against taxing the rich.

AOC brought that conversation to them verbally and visually. The Met Gala wasn’t a performative or hypocritical action of her. 

The ones questioning her actions and criticizing her every move are the same individuals who have taken every opportunity to bash her publicly because she brings controversial topics to the forefront and participates actively when no one else will. 

In her response on social media, she explained that even though she knew criticism was a given, she wouldn’t think twice about doing it. 

“I thought about the criticism I’d get, but honestly, I and my body have been so heavily and relentlessly policed from all corners politically since the moment I won my election that it’s become kind of expected and normalized to me,” AOC mentioned on her Instagram account.

AOC had one goal in mind, and I feel she accomplished it that night by making global news and being genuine to her roots. So even if people think she was being performative and playing a part on a big stage, you can’t say that she doesn’t go to bat for the very people she represents daily. 

“Ultimately, the haters hated, and the people who are thoughtful were thoughtful. But we all had a conversation about Taxing the Rich in front of the very people who lobby against it and punctured the 4th wall of excess and spectacle,” AOC continues on her social media platform.