At the 2025 Met Gala, BLACKPINK’s Lisa made her debut appearance in a custom Louis Vuitton ensemble that quickly became the center of controversy. The outfit, designed by artist Henry Taylor and part of Pharrell Williams’ Spring 2024 collection, featured a tailored black blazer, logo tights, and a lace bodysuit adorned with embroidered portraits. One of these portraits, placed on the bodysuit, appeared to resemble civil rights icon Rosa Parks, sparking significant backlash online.
The Met Gala’s theme for 2025, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” aimed to celebrate Black identity and fashion. However, many critics found Lisa’s outfit disrespectful, arguing that placing Parks’ likeness on a bodysuit was inappropriate and undermined the significance of her legacy. Some social media users also brought up past instances where Lisa and other BLACKPINK members were accused of cultural insensitivity, intensifying the criticism.
In defense, supporters highlighted that the portraits were created by Henry Taylor, a Black artist known for depicting figures from his life, and that the artwork was integrated throughout the outfit, not solely on the bodysuit. Louis Vuitton stated that the portraits were significant to Taylor but did not confirm the identities depicted.
As of now, Lisa has not publicly addressed the controversy. The incident has sparked broader discussions about cultural appropriation, artistic expression, and the responsibilities of public figures in representing cultural symbols.
