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.