The rapper Cardi B faced a wave of criticism after a former Vogue managing director, Gilbert Cheah, publicly chastised her for failing to recall the name of her gown's designer. In the aftermath of the Met Gala on Monday, Cardi B took aim at the backlash she'd been enduring on social media, addressing the controversy head-on.
During her red carpet interview with Emma Chamberlain for Vogue, Cardi B was grilled about the extravagant black gown that dominated the landing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The gown, a masterpiece crafted by Sensen Lii for Windowsen, had taken two months to perfect. However, when Cardi B struggled to recall Lii's name, many felt she had disrespected the designer's hard work.
"I feel amazing," Cardi B declared on the red carpet, pausing momentarily before adding, "It's this amazing designer. They're Asian and everything."
In response to the growing outcry, the "Up" artist posted a video on Instagram, which has now expired but continues to circulate on Twitter. In the two-minute clip, Cardi B made her position clear.
"First things first, I want to make this very clear," she began. "When I was on the red carpet, I was nervous because the dress was meant to be displayed on a small podium. I'd been practicing posing on it, but at the carpet, I wasn't allowed to use it. My mind was a whirlwind, and I felt rushed to the front."
Continuing, she explained, "During the interview, I forgot to pronounce the designer's name because it's quite complex. I was thinking, 'How do I pronounce his name?' My mind was racing."
The backlash intensified when Gilbert Cheah, Vogue's former managing director, commented on an Instagram video of Cardi B at the Met Gala, lambasting her for her oversight.
"For recognition's sake and no thanks to Cardi B, the designer of her gown is Sensen Lii, a Chinese artist," he wrote. "The gown took two months to create. Personally, I find it bland and off-theme, but she chose it and should have at least remembered his name, not just that he's 'Asian.'"
In her video, Cardi B clarified that she mentioned "Asian designer" because she knew he was Asian but couldn't recall his nationality, fearing offense by assuming incorrectly. She also addressed Cheah's comments directly, acknowledging the hard work of her designer and stylist.
"For you to be so shady, feeling offended or whatever, it just shows why you're the former director," Cardi B said. "It seems like you're trying to offend me, but you're actually insulting the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes."
As for those on social media claiming she'd never be invited back to the Met Gala because she forgot the designer's name, Cardi B had a simple response: "Baby, I'm Cardi B."
