Scarlett Johansson made the most controversial outfit decision at last night’s Met Gala, and it didn’t even involve a Pope hat. The actress, who was accompanied by her official boyfriend Colin Jost, wore a pink-and-red tulle gown designed by Marchesa, the line founded by Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife Georgina Chapman. This marks the first time a major celebrity has worn Marchesa to a red carpet event since the Weinstein allegations broke.
Once a red-carpet staple, Marchesa saw its popularity plummet in the wake of the Weinstein scandal, especially after stories suggested that Weinstein had pressured actresses in his films to wear his wife’s dresses. But recently Marchesa has made efforts to rehabilitate its image, with co-founder Keren Craig telling Refinery29 that the brand wants to support the #MeToo movement.
In a quote provided to the Cut, Johansson said that she wore Marchesa because she wanted to show her support for the women behind the brand. “I wore Marchesa because their clothes make women feel confident and beautiful and it is my pleasure to support a brand created by two incredibly talented and important female designers,” she said. Endorsing Chapman’s line appears to be Johansson’s tacit way of saying that women shouldn’t be penalized for the crimes of the men in their lives, something that many #MeToo supporters will likely be able to get on board with.
“We are truly honored that Scarlett chose to wear Marchesa for the Met Gala,” said Marchesa in a statement. “She is an amazingly talented actor who has incredible style and presence. It was wonderful to work so closely with her in creating this custom look.”
This post has been updated throughout.