At the 2019 Met Gala, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stunned on the red carpet in a billowy cream gown by Prabal Gurung. Though the dress’s price hasn’t been disclosed, it was speculated to cost nearly $10,000. Understandably, many people were curious how the then-freshman Congresswoman—earning a salary of $174,000—could afford such a gown.
The speculation quickly swelled. Was Ocasio-Cortez in debt? Did she pay? Her aides refused to comment on the issue, leading to even more buzz—was the young congresswoman hiding something? So much so that an online petition was formed, demanding that Ocasio-Cortez disclose whether she was paying for her dress.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the controversy over Ocasio-Cortez and her expensive Met Gala dress. We’ll discuss how much the dress cost, how the Congresswoman may have paid for it, and whether or not she was trying to hide her financial dealings.
How Much Was Ocasio-Cortez’s Dress?
Though the exact cost of Ocasio-Cortez’s dress was never officially revealed, reports claimed it was likely to cost around $9,000–$10,000. It was custom-made by designer Prabal Gurung, and reportedly hand-embellished with Swarovski crystals.
This cost is undeniably steep—it’s a price tag few in Congress can afford, especially a freshman member of the House. But in a statement released days after the gala, Ocasio-Cortez explained that she was “humbled and grateful” to have been invited to “such a majestic event” and that she “made a personal decision to reflect the gravity of the moment with my attire, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and the support around making it a reality.”
How Did Ocasio-Cortez Pay for Her Dress?
Once the cost of the dress was revealed, many people assumed Ocasio-Cortez was in debt. Out of curiosity, then, a petition was started demanding that the freshman Congresswoman disclose how she was funding the dress.
In response, Ocasio-Cortez clarified in an interview with the New York Times that she was in fact paying for her dress. As she revealed, a friend “had lent [her] the money” and she was “in the process of paying that back.”
It was later revealed that the friend who had lent Ocasio-Cortez the money was Michael Kempner, a successful public relations executive and major Democratic donor, who was a significant figure in the 2016 campaign fundraising.
Did Ocasio-Cortez Intend to Hide How She Paid for Her Dress?
No, she did not. Ocasio-Cortez’s team (as well as the designer) kept the dress’s cost under wraps, which is a common practice for an event as exclusive as the Met Gala.
In a statement released after the gala, the Congresswoman said she was “grateful” for the opportunity to attend the event and “reflect the gravity of the moment with my attire.” She also acknowledged the public’s “concern” over how she was paying for it and clarified in the Times interview that she had lent the money from a friend, who she was “in the process of paying that back.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to attend the Met Gala in a custom Prabal Gurung dress caused an uproar and speculation as to how the Congresswoman had paid for it. Reports claimed the dress cost nearly $10,000. Ocasio-Cortez responded to the speculation by clarifying she had lent the money from a friend and was in the process of “paying that back.” Ultimately, it’s clear that Ocasio-Cortez had every intention of paying for her dress and wasn’t attempting to hide how she was funding it.
