She defended referring to Windowsen founder Sensen Lii as an “Asian” designer on the red carpet.
Cardi B might have had a lot of help getting up the stairs at the Met Gala, but none of her ten dress handlers seemed able to help her remember the name of her outfit’s designer, Sensen Lii. When Emma Chamberlain interviewed her about the look on the red carpet, Cardi didn’t refer to Lii or his label, Windowsen, by name but instead credited her look to “this amazing designer,” adding, “They’re Asian and everything.”
In the days since, Cardi has been criticized for failing to name-check Lii, a Chinese-born designer known for neon, sci-fi-esque collections and drag-inspired shows. In a since-deleted Instagram comment, former Vogue managing director Gilbert Cheah wrote that he found the gown “boring and not even on theme but she chose it and should have at least remembered his name and not just that he’s ‘Asian.’”
Cardi defended herself in an Instagram Story on Wednesday, in which she admitted that, in the moment, she’d forgotten how to pronounce Lii’s name. She explained that she had “a lot of things on my mind” and was “very scared” while on the carpet because she had been practicing how to pose on a podium she wasn’t allowed to use at the event and she was “rushed to the front of the line.” “When I was getting interviewed, I kind of forgot to pronounce the designer’s name,” she continued. “His name is a little bit complicated … my mind was just racing.” Cardi claimed she settled on “Asian designer” because “I feel like it’s offensive if I was to be, like, Oh, some Chinese designer or some Korean designer or some Vietnamese designer. I don’t wanna get somebody’s nationality mixed up.”
Cardi B responds to former director of Vogue after he called her out for forgetting to name the designer and referring to him as “asian or whatever” pic.twitter.com/XI9QzyJJpm
— meyechel (@mxyxchel) May 8, 2024
Cardi also addressed Cheah specifically, arguing that insulting the look “because you feel offended or whatever is just proof why you’re the former director.” As for those concerned that her fumble will get her booted off the guest list next year? “Baby, I’m Cardi B.” Though she notably did not pronounce Lii’s name in the video, she did post on Instagram and X later that day thanking him and his brand for his “amazing talent.” As for Lii, he doesn’t seem too bothered — since Monday, he has continued to post footage of Cardi from the evening and behind-the-scenes looks at how the outfit came together.
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