Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez hit with ethics complaint over show-stopping Met Gala appearance
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez departs the 2021 Met Gala on 13 September 2021 in New York City. (Getty/James Devaney/GC Images/Jamie McCarthy/MG21/The Met Museum/Vogue)
Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has been slapped with an ethics complaint about her show-stopping appearance at the 2021 Met Gala.
Conservative watchdog group the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) said it filed an ethics complaint on Tuesday (14 September) against Ocasio-Cortez over her attendance at the lavish event.
According to Fox News, the group asked the congressional ethics board to “immediately open an investigation” into Ocasio-Cortez and whether she accepted an “impermissible gift” in the form of a ticket to the annual gala.
The AAF said on Twitter: “Her $35,000 ticket and custom designer gown fail to meet any ‘official duties’, and warrant a full investigation into her attendance.”
Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez created a huge buzz on social media because of the fabulous outfit she wore to the Met Gala. The New York congresswoman wore a white gown with the message “tax the rich” emblazoned in red to the swanky event.
“The medium is the message,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Instagram.
She also clarified in her post on social media that “NYC elected officials are regularly invited to and attend the Met due to our responsibilities in overseeing our city’s cultural institutions that serve the public”.
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Ocasio-Cortez added that she was “one of several” elected officials in attendance at the Met Gala and that her dress was borrowed.
“The time is now for childcare, healthcare and climate action for all,” she wrote. “Tax the Rich.”
The gown was designed by Aurora James, creative director and founder of cult brand Brother Vellies, and founder of the 15 Percent Pledge, which aims to help Black-owned businesses like hers.
Ocasio-Cortez also addressed criticism of her appearance at the Met Gala on an Instagram story.
She said she thought about the “criticism I’d get”, but her personality and body have been “so heavily and relentlessly policed from all corners politically” since she won her election that it’s become “expected and normalised to me”.
“Ultimately the haters hated and the people who are thoughtful were thoughtful,” she wrote.
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responds to criticism of her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala on Instagram. (Instagram/@aoc)
An event spokesperson told the Independent in a statement that Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez was invited to the Met Gala as a “guest of the museum”.
Carolyn Maloney, a fellow New York Democratic congresswoman, was also present at the 2021 Met Gala.
