The Met Gala 2024, celebrating the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibit “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” banned garlic, onion, and chives but allowed the Chinese mobile app TikTok, which is facing a pending ban. TikTok CEO Shou Chew made his first appearance since the ban was passed in Congress, being named an honorary chair for the event earlier in the year. TikTok, owned by ByteDance, was the first social media platform to sponsor the Met Gala, reflecting its influence on fashion in the 2020s.
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who oversees the Met Gala, faced criticism for legitimizing TikTok’s place in the fashion space following the ban announcement. Technology analyst Charles King of Pund-IT believes the ban on the app seems like an overreach, as it is legal, available, and functional in the US for the next eight to 12 months. He also questions China’s ability to gather valuable information from the event, aside from fashion tips.
TikTok was already making waves in the fashion world before sponsoring the Met Gala, which has become a platform for influencers. Tech analyst Susan Schreiner notes that TikTok offers a way to reach more audiences and generate business, emphasizing the importance of platforms like TikTok for events like the Met Gala. The Gala took place shortly after TikTok settled a royalty dispute with Universal Music Group, allowing the platform to feature artists’ music again.
The sponsorship of the Met Gala by TikTok has been seen as a PR coup for the app, symbolically inviting influencers to the event. Some suggest that Wintour’s collaboration with TikTok could challenge the perception of the app following the ban. King believes that Wintour is smartly following the money by recognizing TikTok’s value to young people, who avidly follow the platform. The choice to promote cultural events like the Met Gala on TikTok reflects an understanding of its commercial value and appeal to younger audiences.
