Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum Says Kim Kardashian Did Not Ruin Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Dress

Reality star Kim Kardashian recently donned Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress to the Met Gala annual ceremony, giving off a stunning look that made the media rounds. At the event, she only wore the gown for a few minutes on the red carpet before changing into a garment that looked similar.

However, a fashion expert revealed weeks after the Gala that he had visited the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum where the garment is kept and spotted significant damage on the dress. Monroe's fans worldwide were upset by the news, resulting in a massive reaction against the reality star.

Now, the dress's owner has come forward to refute the rumors, claiming that Kardashian returned the legendary gown "in the exact condition it started in" after the Met Gala night.

On Thursday, the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum released an announcement debunking the previous allegations, saying that the Hulu reality star "did not, in any way, damage the garment in the short amount of time it was worn at the Met Gala."

"From the bottom of the Met steps, where Kim got into the dress, to the top where it was returned, the dress was in the same condition it started in," said Amanda Joiner, Ripley's VP of Publishing and Licensing, who accompanied the gown from the museum to the Kardashian house to the Met Gala and back to its resting place.

Kardashian had reportedly gone on a strict diet to lose weight before the event so she could fit into the gown without destroying any of its beautiful heritage. The fact that she had done such heightened supporters' fears that she would ruin the gown, which was only increased when word that the fabric had deteriorated went viral.

The viral news of the damage to the cloth made media rounds when one Chad Michael Morrisette said he saw that the crystal-adorned dress was looking worse for wear when he came into a Ripley's Los Angeles branch for a peek.

To back his claims, he shared before and after photos of the iconic gown and listed several points on why he thought Kardashian had permanently ruined the historical garment.

"I know the dress very well, I've seen it many times, I've photographed it many times, I have plenty of photographic evidence of what's different now," Morrisette, a Monroe fan, told HuffPost.

"The dress was designed to be skin-tight on Monroe's body. The dress's patches and panels have been pulled to the point of being "bubbled, ripped" and "tattered." There are also a number of missing crystal beads," according to the expert.

In another interview with The Associated Press, Morrisette described that he grew emotional seeing the dress in that manner.

Morrisette would subsequently express his surprise at the museum's decision to allow Kardashian to wear the garment, which he described as immensely valuable beyond any other dress. Ripley then retorted that it allowed Kardashian to don the gown to help push Monroe's legacy to the next generations.

"Our mission is to both entertain and educate visitors and fans, and sparking conversations like the discourse around Marilyn Monroe's dress does just that," the company said. "No matter which side of the debate you are on, the historical importance of the dress has not been negated but rather highlighted. A entirely new group of young people have now been introduced to the legacy of Marilyn Monroe."

While Ripley's latest declaration may assuage fans' fears about the gowns, many may still harbor grudges towards Kardashian for wearing the gown to the Met Gala, especially because she had previously faced flak for wearing another Monroe piece in the past.

Monroe's classic dress was created some decades ago for her to wear to President John F. Kennedy's 45th birthday party, where she memorably performed a sensual rendition of "Happy Birthday."

The nude-colored garment was fashioned of a flammable fabric that is no longer available on the market at this time. It was specifically crafted for Monroe and was encrusted with over 2,500 gems. Additionally, it was based on a drawing by renowned designer Bob Mackie, who was at the time working for dressmaker Jean Louis.

Following Monroe's death at the age of 32 in 1962, many of her properties were subsequently auctioned over the years, given their historical value. The dress was acquired at such an exhibition in 2016 for $4.8 million, and it has been on display at Ripley's ever since, save for Kim Kardashian wearing it to the Met Gala.

Monroe has remained an idol for Hollywood admirers worldwide, and considering the reactions to the clothing incident, such sentiments are unlikely to fade anytime soon.