Scarlett Johansson made an appearance at the Met Gala last night, which celebrated “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” She made heads turn as she arrived with her new beau, Coliп Jost – a writer and star of SNL, instead of the designer of her stunning gown. As per the Met Gala tradition, the event is part fashion extravaganza and part fundraiser, where designers purchase tables to raise funds for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Therefore, most celebrities attend the event as guests of the designer hosting their table.
Marchesa, a fashion house that has recently been avoided by Hollywood royalty after the scandal involving Harvey Weinstein, designed Scarlett’s off-shoulder ombré gown with appliquéd blooms and a watteau train. The brand’s co-founder is Georgina Chapman, Weinstein’s ex-wife, which may be the reason why celebrities have been hesitant to wear Marchesa. However, Johansson became the first celebrity to wear the brand to a high-profile event, the Met Gala. At the Met Gala, the focus is usually on the gown itself rather than who is wearing it, making Johansson’s choice all the more noteworthy.
Back in late 2017, numerous women from Hollywood and other places shared their terrible experiences of sexual harassment that they faced while interacting with the film producer Harvey Weinstein. These horrific stories came into light through the investigative reports published by New York Times and New Yorker. One of the victims, Rose McGowan, even spoke out on Twitter and accused Weinstein of rape.
Sallie Hofmeister, spokesperson for Weinstein, has released a statement in response to The New Yorker’s article about Weinstein. In the statement, it is emphasized that Weinstein denies any allegations of non-consensual sexual activity and that he has never retaliated against any women for refusing his advances. Additionally, Weinstein has sought counseling and is actively working towards improving himself. He hopes that with enough progress, he will be given a second chance.
Numerous reports indicated that Harvey Weinstein used his intimidating tactics to coerce actresses in his movies, such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lupita Nyong’o, to wear Marchesa, the fashion line of his estranged wife, Georgina Chapman, on the red carpet. According to Harper’s BAZAAR UK, Jessica Chastain and Felicity Huffman came forward about Weinstein’s pressure to wear the brand. Chastain stated that Weinstein attempted to make her don the label at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” but she refused. Weinstein then proceeded to publicly humiliate her at the festival.
According to reports from The Cut, actress Felicity Huffman was not as strong-willed when Harvey Weinstein threatened her to wear Marchesa at the Golden Globes. She admitted to being pushed to wear the brand while promoting her film, Transamerica, for which she won Best Actress. The movie was also a contender for an Oscar nomination. Weinstein had allegedly threatened to withdraw promotional funds for the film if she did not wear Marchesa. In October 2017, Georgina Chapman announced her departure from Weinstein, leaving the fate of her brand uncertain. Marchesa subsequently canceled its New York Fashion Week showing for Fall 2018 and only showcased its Spring 2019 Bridal collection to select buyers and press in private appointments. Many people are now wondering how the brand will recover and which celebrity will first wear Marchesa on the red carpet since the scandal broke.
In an interview with People.com, Johansson expressed complete satisfaction with her choice of wardrobe at the previous night’s Met Gala. She proudly donned Marchesa’s clothing as it makes women feel confident and beautiful, and supporting a brand created by two talented and important female designers gave her pleasure. The spokesperson for Marchesa also shared similar sentiments, stating that they were honored that Scarlett chose to wear their custom-made dress for the event, and that she has an incredible sense of style and presence.
According to People, Johansson has been vocal about the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements but chose not to comment on the label of her gown at the recent Gala. At the Women’s March in January, she spoke out against certain actors accused of sexual assault, particularly James Franco. She mentioned that the recent revelations regarding the abuse of power, sexual harassment, and the question of consent versus coercion left her pensive and compelled her to understand where we stand and how we arrived here.