Vogue‘s Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour is on board with Scarlett Johansson’s decision to wear Marchesa to the Met Gala, a dress designed by Georgina Chapman.
Georgina Chapman was put in fashion exile because of Harvey Weinstein’s scandal. Many questioned what she knew and if she was complicit. But Anna Wintour says she shouldn’t be punished for her husband’s behavior.
Scarlett Johansson made a splash at this year’s Met Gala by wearing a Marchesa dress designed by Chapman. Anna Wintour has come to the actress’ defense saying a woman shouldn’t be judged by her husband’s actions.
Celebs came out in full force wearing their best Catholic-themed outfits at the 2018 Met Gala. But one sparked a bit of controversy. Johansson came out looking fantastic in a red Marchesa dress.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Scarlett Johansson attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
People were shocked. This was one of the first times someone wore Chapman’s label since her estranged husband Harvey Weinstein’s terrible sexual misconduct scandal last fall.
Wintour spoke up for Johannson while on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show on Wednesday. She said she’s proud of Johansson for supporting Chapman and wearing the dress.
“Georgina is a brilliant designer, and I don’t think she should be blamed for her husband’s behavior,” the Vogue Editor-in-Chief said. “I think it was a great gesture of support on Scarlett’s part to wear a dress like that, a beautiful dress like that, on such a public occasion.”
Women often are associated with the men in their lives’ behavior. Just look at how often Hillary Clinton was conflated with Bill Clinton during the last election. Of course, Chapman shouldn’t be blamed or associated with her husband’s actions. She didn’t do those terrible things to those women. She’s her own person, she left Weinstein, and she’s a brilliant designer.
People have speculated a lot about Chapman since Weinstein’s scandal though. How much did she know about the allegations? And how much did Weinstein have to do with Marchesa? Many say that Weinstein was instrumental in Marchesa’s success when Chapman first started. He was always in the front row at the fashion shows, and some even believe that Weinstein pressured actresses to wear his wife’s clothes. Thus, they thought Chapman was complicit in Weinstein’s actions in exchange for better business.
Others, though, say Chapman is a victim of Weinstein’s scandal in her own right. She was punished for Weinstein’s actions after all. Celebrities stopped wearing her clothes to premieres and events, Helzberg Diamonds stopped their collaboration with the brand, employees left the brand, they canceled a New York Fashion Week show, and more. All of this was because Chapman was married to and associated with Weinstein.
But Johansson has made a statement by wearing Marchesa to the Met Gala. Now the fashion world is welcoming Chapman back in with open arms.
When numerous women spoke out about Harvey Weinstein, his wife remained silent—until now. Georgina Chapman opens up about her marriage, her divorce & her future: https://t.co/FZdq87oFpL
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) May 10, 2018
After Johansson’s appearance, Wintour also spoke to Colbert in support of Chapman and Vogue posted the editor’s letter from its June issue about Chapman.
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“I am firmly convinced that Georgina had no idea about her husband’s behavior; blaming her for any of it, as too many in our gladiatorial digital age, is wrong,” Wintour wrote. “I believe that one should not hold a person responsible for the actions of his or her partner.”