Met Gala Controversy
K-POP superstar Lisa, a cast member of the third season of "The White Lotus", made her Met Gala debut, but her appearance was quickly overshadowed by a firestorm of controversy. The 28-year-old Blackpink member wore a custom Louis Vuitton look that nodded to the theme "Superfine: Tailoring the Black Style", which celebrated black dandyism.
The Outfit
Lisa’s ensemble consisted of an embroidered black blazer, logo tights, and a lace bodysuit that left little to the imagination, especially around her lower half. The outfit was not just about the trendy trend that she hugged, but also about the graphic top pattern in her underwear, which seemed to show faces – one of which many believed looked eerily like the late civil rights icon Rosa Parks.
Social Media Backlash
The graphics motif, a collage of faces printed on her underwear, was the most visible below the waist and triggered immediate backlash on social media. Many users expressed outrage, with one saying "Rosa Parks on your underwear less than 3 months after a compilation from you that uses the N word becomes viral is a bit crazy, but maybe that’s just me!" Another user added, "Who thought it was a good idea to put the faces of influential black women on a pair of panties?"
Recent Scandal
The scandal came just weeks after audition clips surfaced that appeared to show Lisa and other Blackpink members using a racist slur on stage. None of the idols have publicly acknowledged or apologized for the alleged incident, which has added to the outrage over the perceived disrespect. One critic said, "Although Lisa said the N-word several times and never apologized, she doesn’t seem to care because she’s wearing underwear with pictures of Rosa Parks, a civil rights icon who fought against racist injustice."
Design Explanation
A representative of Louis Vuitton explained that the design was created by American artist Henry Taylor, who was personally selected by Pharrell Williams for his spring 2024 collection. The pressure was said to feature "portraits of characters that were part of the artist’s life", but it is still unclear whether Rosa Parks is one of them. Despite the explanation, the viral phrase "Rosa Parks underwear" was already trending on social media by the end of the gala.
