K-pop sensation Lisa from Blackpink made headlines at the Met Gala last night, sparking controversy over her outfit that some mistakenly claimed featured an image of civil rights icon Rosa Parks on the crotch area. However, it was clarified that the faces embroidered on her Louis Vuitton ensemble were actually the work of contemporary artist Henry Taylor, showcasing portraits of people close to him, not including Rosa Parks.
Despite the uproar surrounding her outfit, Lisa has yet to address the situation following numerous news reports and social media posts. Hyperallergic confirmed that the portraits on her outfit were not of Rosa Parks but rather individuals known to the artist, reflecting Taylor’s signature style of highlighting Black individuals in his paintings.
Taylor, who collaborated with Met Gala Co-Chair Pharrell Williams in 2023 for the launch of his LV menswear collection, provided samples of his portraiture that were transformed into micro-embroidered embellishments for the fashion line. He also painted Pharrell’s portrait for the cover of Vogue’s May issue.
Attending the gala with the theme “Tailored For You,” which celebrated the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition, Taylor was styled by Pharrell himself, wearing a white button-down shirt featuring his own embroidered portraits.
Lisa’s outfit at the gala, styled by Pharrell, featured the same portraits used in his debut collection but presented as black outlines rather than colorful embroidery. This incident comes on the heels of leaked videos showing Lisa and other Blackpink members allegedly using the N-word during their training days, further adding to the controversy surrounding the group.
Despite the backlash, Blackpink has not issued an official statement addressing the recent controversies. The integration of art, fashion, and social issues at the Met Gala serves as a reminder of the power of expression and interpretation in the world of entertainment and culture.
