The private museum that owns an iconic dress worn

by Marilyn Monroe allowed it to be "permanently

damaged" when it lent it to reality star Kim Kardashian

for her appearance at the Met Gala extravaganza last

month, a Monroe memorabilia collector alleged

Wednesday.

A platinum blonde Kardashian shined but also stirred

controversy when she donned the stunning skintight

gown Monroe wore in 1962 to sing "Happy Birthday,

Mr President" to John F Kennedy.

Scott Fortner, a collector who runs a website

dedicated entirely to Monroe, released before and

after photos this week of the crystal-studded cream

gown.

The after shots were taken by a friend of Fortner, who

saw the dress on display Sunday at curiosity museum

Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Los Angeles, which owns

the dress and had allowed Kardashian to wear it.

The comparison shots seem to show small tears in the

fabric near hooks that fastened the dress together as

well as missing crystals and others hanging by a

thread.

The alleged damage to the gown, which Ripley's

bought at auction for a record $4.8 million, has drawn

widespread criticism on social media in recent days.

In an update published to his Instagram account on

Wednesday, Fortner specified that "I blame Ripley's,

as they allowed the dress to be worn."

"I feel that any and every celebrity offered a chance to

wear this garment very likely would jump at the

opportunity," he said. "There's a reason someone

would want to wear it. Kim K. just happened to be the

one who got to do it."

"It's now permanently damaged, and likely would have

been damaged regardless of who wore it," Fortner

said.

Asked by AFP about the accusations, Ripley's did not

respond Wednesday afternoon.

In early May, Ripley's trumpeted the opportunity for

Kardashian to wear the dress.

"Great care was taken to preserve this piece of history.

With input from garment conservationists, appraisers,

archivists, and insurance, the garment's condition was

top priority," the company said.

Kardashian, who reportedly went on a major diet to be

able to squeeze into the legendary garment, did not

respond to the allegations on her social networks.