A picture of Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wearing a dress with the phrase "Tax the Rich" at the 2021 Met Gala
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (L) responded to critics saying her "tax the rich" dress was hypocritical.
Mike Coppola/John Shearer/Getty Images/Insider
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded to criticism online that her Met Gala dress and attendance were hypocritical.
  • She wrote on Instagram that she was invited to the ball and that her dress was borrowed.
  • Critics were upset that she appeared at an event that reportedly costs $30,000 a head wearing a designer gown.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended her decision to attend Monday night's annual Met Gala after causing a stir on social media for appearing at the glitzy fashion event.

Critics zeroed in on the Democratic congresswoman's white strapless dress, which had the words "tax the rich" emblazoned in bright red on the back. The message on the dress, they said, contradicted how much Ocasio-Cortez would have spent on a ticket to attend the ball – which reportedly costs $30,000 a head.

Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken progressive, clarified her position and attendance in an Instagram post.

"The medium is the message," she wrote.

"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," Ocasio-Cortez wrote.

She also wrote that her dress was borrowed from Brooklyn-based brand Brother Vellies and praised the gown's designer, Aurora James, for helping her "work together to kick open the doors at the Met."

"The time is now for childcare, healthcare, and climate action for all. Tax the Rich," wrote Ocasio-Cortez.

A post shared by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc)

Many of those who disapproved of the look were from the GOP. Donald Trump Jr., for one, took to Twitter, where he described Ocasio-Cortez as a "fraud" for mingling with wealthy elites while wearing the dress.

Tina Forte, a Republican congressional candidate for New York, wrote on Twitter that she wanted an investigation launched into Ocasio-Cortez for receiving the Met ticket and designer dress.

Meanwhile, New York Times fashion director and critic Vanessa Friedman tweeted that the congresswoman's appearance and gown were "a complicated proposition."

Ocasio-Cortez did garner some support on Twitter, with fans of her appearance saying that the words on her dress, displayed for the rich attendees at the gala to see, was "iconic."

Read the original article on Insider