During this year’s Met Gala, as some celebrities donned dramatic dresses made of sand or thousands of crystals, there was a noticeable absence of political statements. Some activists on social media responded with a campaign aimed at taking away the platform for celebrities who have refused to use their positions to speak up for people in need, particularly when it comes to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
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Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Jordan Reid argues in favor of having the Met Gala for the sake of the Met Gala itself, and questions why Americans expect pop celebrities to have nuanced political opinions on complex global events. Below is an excerpt from that video:
Yes, they can drive awareness, yes they can encourage donations. Yes. And it’s wonderful when they do. But it is not their obligation (and, while we’re at it, it’s also not their obligation to agree 100% with these protesters on what is quite clearly a deeply complex situation in the Middle East). There is, perhaps, some wisdom in knowing when you shouldn’t speak, and instead deferring to those who are knowledgeable.
And then there’s this: I also think that there is value in enjoying a moment of indulgence. I, for example, spent a long, glorious evening sitting on my laptop sifting through the photos and dissecting each look with my best friend (if you’re curious, my winners for Best Dressed were Tyla, Gigi Hadid, and the endlessly elegant Jeff Goldblum).
So, when every last sequin had been assessed, I went back to my phone and my news alerts and my kids class schedules and the problem of what to make for dinner. I remembered everything that’s still undone, and everything that’s left to do — in my own home, and in the world at large. But for a few minutes, all I was doing was looking at some pretty dresses. And it felt good.