Met Gala 2022: New York Mayor Eric Adams Makes Statement About Gun Violence With Jacket

New York Mayor Eric Adams has taken a leaf out of US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s book and made a rare but necessary political statement at the Met Gala 2022.

On Monday night Adams walked the red carpet with his partner Tracey Collins in a waistcoat emblazoned with the phrase ‘End Gun Violence’ on the back following last month’s Brooklyn subway shooting, which resulted in 10 people being severely injured.

Ahead of the Gala, Adam’s office confirmed his attendance to the New York Times, stating: ‘While he will celebrate American fashion, he also recognises the fraught history of the Gilded Age.’

This year’s dress code, ‘Gilded Glamour and White Tie’, pays tribute to the period of rapid growth and development in the from 1870 to 1890, however many of the event’s critics have accused the event out being out of touch given the current state of the US economy and global political issues.

One Twitter user previously tweeted: ‘Am I the only one who thinks this years #MetGala theme is out of touch? inequality is at the highest levels since the Gilded Age, a pandemic & economic meltdown wrecked us, inflation is out of control … but cool, let’s wear #GildedAge themed dresses & laugh about inequality … this year’s theme is a slap in the face to average Americans. [sic]’

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Another touched on the ongoing Russian – Ukrainian war and referred to the quote regularly attributed to the French queen Marie Antoinette, noting: ‘Gilded glamor at a time of war, let them eat cake. [sic]’

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Last year Ocasio Cortez, who is commonly known by her nickname AOC, wore a ‘Tax the Rich’ gown by the brand Brother Vellies.

Designer Aurora James told the New York Times of the design: ‘For us it was about delivering a message, and I think given what the Met Gala is, and who the congresswoman is, and what her message really always is, we felt that it was appropriate.’

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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.