Let's just start with the assumption that Lagerfeld did make the claim and that the claim is true.
1. Celebrities get paid to wear, drive, use and otherwise endorse things all of the time. This isn't really a ground-breaking concept.
2. Lagerfeld's claims seem to imply that they are performing some kind of charity in "gifting" these dresses to celebrities for the red carpet. That's like saying that Nike gifted Michael Jordan some Air Jordan's so he's a tool for asking them to pay him for it. Celebrities that wear these brands are inherently promoting the brands, especially when it comes to awards shows. The point is that, in gifting a dress, Chanel isn't performing an act of philanthropy and if Streep demanded payment for wearing it, she would be getting paid to endorse a product, which is really why Chanel would want her to wear the dress to begin with. The fact that they "gift" the dresses in and of itself is a form of payment, especially when considering that A. the clothing is typically extremely overpriced, over $105,000 in this case and B. most of those that are going to have the cameras trained on them can certainly afford to purchase whatever dress/suit that they choose to.
3. With the exception of Republicans that are just harboring a grudge and lashing out because Streep spoke out against Trump, who cares? I feel very confident in stating that most of those reading this would be glad to wear a different shirt to work/church/school/etc. Monday if'n a respectable company contacted them in order to offer to pay them to wear a free article of clothing that they found appealing.
I say Meryl is pushing 70. Maybe she's picked up an extra mole or two & maybe even a wart in wanting a higher neckline. Yet i'd say it was the Money. The rich can't get wealthy enough.....
A representative tells THR the claim is absolutely false. On Thursday, WWD reported that Meryl Streep turned down a custom couture Chanel creation after the fashion house refused to pay her to wear it.
Bridget Foley reports that Streep, who is up for a best actress Oscar on Sunday, her 20th nomination, had her eye on an embroidered gray silk number from Lagerfeld's most recent couture collection, and asked for the neckline to be customized. She writes that the fashion house had begun production on the dress when a call came through in which Streep's camp reportedly said, according to Lagerfeld, "'Don't continue the dress. We found somebody who will pay us.'"
Streep's team, however, absolutely refutes that claim.
A representative for the actress tells The Hollywood Reporter that the statement is absolutely false, and that it is against her personal ethics to be paid to wear a gown on the red carpet. Chanel did not immediately return THR's request for comment.
Well, that is weird, but to each their own. Why anyone would hope such a thing is beyond my sensibilities, but I suppose some jr high school boys would hope to see such.
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