Would they mock other faiths?
Hollywood actor leads protests after New York fashion gala is accused of insulting Catholicism
ON reflectiON, the choice of theme may have been courting trouble.
But the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had heavyweight backing when it gave its annual ball the provocative title Heavenly Bodies: fashion and the catholic imagination.
celebrities arrived in an array of styles mocking papal regalia, religious symbols and nativity scenes, sporting crosses and angel wings … and in several cases leaving very little to the imagination.
it led roman catholics to criticise Monday night’s costume institute Gala – better known as the Met Gala – for being offensive, blasphemous and ‘utterly ridiculous’.
US actor James Woods, who is catholic, tweeted in disgust that insulting other religions could provoke violent reprisals. He wrote: ‘if this kind of group insult toward a religion were aimed at islam, for example, we would have another charlie Hebdo on our hands.
‘Why are these people so eager to blaspheme catholicism? And why with such glee?’
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan, who is also catholic, said: ‘What if it had been an islamic theme? imagine what people would have felt, or even with a Jewish theme. if it was any other religion all hell would be breaking loose.’
However, the event had the official support of the Vatican, which has lent many precious objects and garments for a new exhibition at the museum, the opening of which was celebrated at the ball, including a cassock worn by Pope John Paul ii, loaned after months of negotiations between the Holy See and the Met.
the gala is hosted by American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who is on a panel which sets the theme. invited celebrity guests each attend with a fashion designer.
Madonna, who has clashed with the Vatican over several of her songs, including like A Prayer – which she sang at the event – and Papa Don’t Preach, wore a floor-length, black Jean-Paul Gaultier gown with a mesh cross across the bodice.
the 59-year-old singer also wore a black mesh veil, rosary necklace and a crown of gold and silver crosses.
rihanna, 30, sported a revealing strapless silver dress – with a matching mitre and jewel-encrusted cloak – by John Galliano. Sex And the city star Sarah Jessica Parker, 53, wore a large gold headpiece bearing a nativity scene. Meanwhile, model cara Delevingne, 25, put her ‘heavenly body’ on display in a floor-length sheer Dior gown with black lattice panels and a black beaded veil covering her face.
Singer Jennifer lopez’s Balmain gown, with a beaded blue and red cross on the bodice, included a thigh-high split. rosie Huntington- Whiteley’s golden cape and halo headpiece may have hinted at saintliness – were it not for the plunging neckline on the 31year-old model’s gold gown.
Pop star Katy Perry, 33, who was raised a catholic, went for full angel mode with a pair of 6ft white feathered wings topping off her tight gold minidress and thigh-high gold boots – and almost knocked over a stylist with the wings as she posed for photos.
the controversial event was also backed by timothy Dolan, the cardinal Archbishop of New York, who attended the gala.
He said: ‘think about it just for a moment. it’s because the church and the catholic imagination – the theme of this exhibit – are all about three things; truth, goodness and beauty. that’s why we’re into things such as art, culture, music, literature and, yes, even fashion.’
‘Why are they so eager to blaspheme?’