AOC Attends Rich Event to Let Rich People Know She Wants to "Tax the Rich"

AOC edit by Gladys Lopez

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's attendance at the 2021 Met Gala sparked a heated debate on social media. AOC wore a white strapless dress by designer Aurora James that featured the message "Tax the Rich" in bold red letters across the back.

AOC and Dress Designer Aurora James at the 2021 Met Gala

The choice of dress was seen by some as a powerful statement, while others criticized AOC for attending an event that costs $35,000 per ticket. Despite the backlash, AOC defended her decision to attend the Met Gala, saying it was an opportunity to bring attention to issues she cares about. She posted on Instagram that "The medium is the message" and added, "And yes, BEFORE anybody starts wilding out - 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. I was one of several in attendance."

Instagram Post by AOC on September 14, 2021

In a statement, she said, “Ultimately the haters hated, and the people who are thoughtful were thoughtful. But we all had a conversation about Taxing the Rich in front of the very people who lobby against it, and punctured the fourth wall of excess and spectacle.” She also noted that she had been invited as a guest of the designer, who has been a vocal advocate for economic and social justice.

While some praised AOC's message, others argued that attending an event seen as a symbol of wealth and excess contradicted her message. Critics also pointed out that AOC's attendance at the Met Gala could be seen as aligning herself with the people she advocates against. However, AOC remained steadfast in her decision to attend, noting that she is often criticized no matter what she does and that her goal is to start important conversations, no matter the venue.

During a red carpet interview, AOC doubled down on her choice to wear the dress by telling Reuters, "I think it's incredibly important, because when we talk about supporting working families and when we talk about having fair a tax code, oftentimes those conversations are happening among working and middle class people. I think it's time that we bring all classes into the conversation about having a fair country." AOC is clear with her message: she wants to tax the rich. In the same Instagram post, she wrote, "The time is now for childcare, healthcare, and climate action for all. Tax the Rich." 

AOC and Dress Designer Aurora James at the 2021 Met Gala

AOC'S dress garnered a lot of attention and media coverage, which helped her spread her political message about income inequality and increasing taxes on the rich. By attending a high-profile event deemed "fashion's biggest night out" and using her outfit to make a statement, AOC was able to attract a large audience and generate significant media coverage, which allowed her message to reach more people than it might have otherwise. Through this act, AOC was able to leverage mass media to spread her message and promote her political agenda.

Image Sources:

(@aoc), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 2021. “The Medium Is the Message.” Instagram. September 14, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTybzXHAHYh/.

Singh, Ashish. 2021. “Met Gala 2021: AOC Slammed for ‘TAX THE RICH’ Gown at $35k-a-Ticket Event.” MEAWW. September 14, 2021. https://meaww.com/met-gala-2021-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-tax-the-rich-white-outfit-brother-vellies-twitter-reacts-547931.

Washington Post (Washington, D.C.: 1974). 2021. “The Met Gala Is Full of Rich People. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wore a Dress with a Message: ‘Tax the Rich.,’” September 14, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/09/14/aoc-met-gala-tax-rich-dress/.