At this year’s Met Gala, Scarlett Johansson made a bold fashion statement by wearing a Marchesa creation, breaking the silence around the brand since the scandal involving Harvey Weinstein and co-founder Georgina Chapman. Despite the event’s theme, Scarlett opted for a unique burgundy and pink gown, showcasing floral details on the neckline and waist. The actress’s choice to support the embattled label raised eyebrows, as no other celebrities had worn Marchesa since the allegations against Weinstein surfaced back in 2017.
Issue: Scarlett Johansson created a stir by choosing to wear a Marchesa outfit at the 2018 Met Gala, making her the first prominent figure to endorse the brand following the scandal involving Harvey Weinstein.
Issue: The 33-year-old actor, who has faced criticism in the past for standing by accused wrongdoers, wore a stylish floral burgundy and pink outfit at the formal occasion.
In the spotlight: The actress from The Avengers faced backlash on social media for choosing to wear a Marchesa gown, with numerous comments hinting that this choice implied she was showing support for Weinstein.
Scarlett was accompanied by her SNL writer boyfriend Colin Jost on the red carpet, showing no signs of concern over the scandal.
The tulle dress featured a beautiful ombre design, blending from deep red to soft pink with floral petals scattered throughout. Scarlett’s choice of off-the-shoulder dress was flattering, but it sparked controversy due to its association with the Weinstein scandal. Social media users criticized her for supporting Marchesa, a fashion label closely tied to the disgraced producer. Despite Scarlett’s public support for the Time’s Up movement, her decision to wear Marchesa raised eyebrows, especially considering her past association with Weinstein. While she acknowledged the prevalence of sexism and harassment in the industry, she failed to directly address or denounce Weinstein’s actions.
A major milestone? This marks the debut of a Marchesa creation on the red carpet following the allegations against Weinstein that came to light back in October 2017.
Flower Power: In addition to some floral accents on the neckline, the dress also showcased a lovely petal pattern on the flowing tulle skirt.
In a unique twist, Scarlett flaunted a chic short brunette haircut at the event, where she opted to coordinate her makeup with the dress colors. The actress made quite an entrance on the red carpet alongside her SNL writer boyfriend Colin Jost. Earlier this year, she made waves at the Women’s March in Los Angeles by addressing a certain individual, later revealed to be James Franco, for taking advantage of those without power. With a hint of sarcasm, she concluded her speech by casually mentioning she wanted her pin back, alluding to Franco wearing a Time’s Up pin at the Golden Globes.
Scarlett’s recent support for Marchesa stirred some controversy, not being the first time she faced backlash for defending someone accused of wrongdoing. Critics slammed her online after she defended director Woody Allen, who had been accused of child abuse by his daughter. Despite the allegations, Scarlett maintained a neutral stance, stating that without concrete evidence, it’s all speculation. She also criticized the approach of bringing actors into situations they have no real knowledge of, highlighting the complexity and irresponsibility of the accusations.
Back in 2007, Scarlett had expressed admiration for Allen, going as far as saying she would even sew his pants if he requested. Despite the controversies surrounding her associations, Scarlett’s actions continue to spark discussions and debates within the entertainment industry.
Facing criticism: Scarlett, who appeared in Weinstein’s film Vicky Christina Barcelona in 2008, was among the group of actresses under fire for not speaking out against his behavior (pictured together in 2008).
Criticism has been directed towards the actress for her public support of director Woody Allen, despite facing allegations of child abuse by his estranged daughter.
Additionally, she encountered strong criticism in 2014 for her friendly interaction with Roman Polanski, a convicted child rapist, during the Cesar Film Awards.
Setback: Marchesa, which was established by Georgina Chapman when she met Harvey Weinstein, had received financial backing from the wealthy movie producer for several years. In a controversial incident at the Cesar Film Awards, Chapman was seen interacting with convicted child rapist Roman Polanski on stage, raising eyebrows.
Although Marchesa has been embroiled in scandal following Weinstein’s abuse allegations, Scarlett’s decision to wear one of their gowns is likely a positive development for Chapman and her business partner Keren Craig. Founded in 2004 with Weinstein’s support, Marchesa gained early success with the help of actresses who showcased its designs at premieres and events.
In October 2017, Felicity Huffman revealed that Weinstein had pressured her to wear Marchesa gowns by threatening to withdraw publicity funding for her film Transamerica. Amidst allegations of Weinstein’s misconduct, it was reported that he used his influence to ensure A-list stars wore Marchesa.
Huffman confirmed complying with Weinstein’s demands by donning a white Marchesa gown at the Golden Globes, where she was nominated for her work. Even before the scandal erupted, there were claims that Marchesa’s success was due to Weinstein’s Hollywood connections.
According to sources, Weinstein played a significant role in Marchesa’s success by leveraging his celebrity connections and striking deals for the brand. Reports suggested that Chapman was aware of Weinstein’s misconduct and benefited from their relationship.
In another instance, Sienna Miller was allegedly urged to wear Marchesa to appease Weinstein at the Golden Globes in 2007, following her role in the Weinstein-produced film Factory Girl.
