Every year on the first Monday of May, almost everyone tunes in for “Fashion’s biggest night”—the Met Gala. For just one night a year, almost everyone turns into a fashion critic or better yet, into Miranda Priestly to say some comments about the event’s attendees.
Invitations to this highly prestigious fashion event are usually coveted by most, and people who are considered to be “culturally relevant to contemporary society” in different fields are given an invitation.
Most recently, K-pop stars have begun gracing the Met Gala red carpet (individually)—beginning with “Gangnam Style” singer PSY making his debut with Super Junior’s Siwon in the 2013 Met Gala, and was followed by Rain in 2015, then by EXO’s Lay in 2019, BLACKPINK’s Rosé and 2NE1’s CL in 2021, NCT’s Johnny in 2022, and BLACKPINK’s Jennie in 2023.
This year, K-pop boy group Stray Kids and BLACKPINK’s Jennie made an appearance at the 2024 Met Gala, with the theme “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” and the dress code, “The Garden of Time.”
And by the way, this is the first time an entire K-pop boy group was invited (and approved by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour) to attend, so this is absolutely HUGE news and definitely one for the history books.
The 8-piece group made their debut on the Met Gala red carpet decked in a full Tommy Hilfiger ensemble. First, all 8 members wore navy blue overcoats, which they removed while on the red carpet and revealed their custom-made suits in the signature Tommy Hilfiger colors with gold accents and floral detailing.
While fans, onlookers, and social media users were obviously fawning over Stray Kids’ dashing looks, their Met Gala red carpet debut was slightly marred when fans started pointing out that the boys were subject to ‘racist comments’ from some of the paparazzi present.
i'm legit so mad are these paparazzis that stupid and racists? who let them in ffs pic.twitter.com/gQnRoGaePA
— robs🫧 방찬의 아내 (@lovesxrobs) May 6, 2024
This was supposed to be a happy event. We were excited to see Stray Kids take the runway because they are GLOBAL ICONS to have blatant racism, rudeness, and unprofessionalism by so many people in the industry is appalling. This should not have happened.
STRAY KIDS DESERVED… pic.twitter.com/a6EX7sECUh
— ♡ Dae Bang ♡ (@skztinypixie) May 6, 2024
i hadn't seen the entire video apparently and im just in pure shock pic.twitter.com/6Rq1RAwpFg
— ren ᯓ★ GOLDEN HOUR (@jnginstoast) May 7, 2024
for those that don’t know what he said / did, here is a video in length of his comments, leading & encouraging others to make comments just like his. he is in the bottom right of the screen & is the main antagonist. pic.twitter.com/62Fi8FRKCW
— kori bang 🎨 SAW ENHYPEN🍊🤍 (@fortheluvofskz) May 7, 2024
The paparazzi were heard saying that they “have never seen so many unemotional faces before” and then said, “Now let’s do it with feeling!” Another was also heard saying, “Now jump!” while giving Stray Kids directions.
After the paparazzi got some shots of Stray Kids, Bang Chan, the boy group’s leader, signaled the other members to go up the stairs. It’s unknown if Bang Chan did hear any of the rude comments, but many fans and Internet users praised him for how he handled the situation.
I will never get tired of saying and praising this man's ability to adapt. But this was absolutely another level. Being in a totally new situation/environment, he handled himself like a professional.
Bang Chan, the best leader, in fact. https://t.co/TnVRnFDZzG— Popi🌸🌊 || ✨️찬이의 “방” 🐺 Ep. 209✨️ (@beachboi1003) May 7, 2024
Felix and Bang Chan are native English speakers from Australia, and multiple members speak English near fluency. They understood your photographers’ inappropriate, ignorant, and racist remarks. Every single word. You made that their first impression of the Met.@Independent https://t.co/P6Gkt4AW9q
— vexie 樂✯ (@nyanrachas) May 6, 2024
I don't want to bring more attention to this issue, but I want to continue highlighting Bang Chan's attitude, even k-media praising him. I'm so proud of you. https://t.co/zSA8baWHt8 pic.twitter.com/bvItnoQO22
— Popi🌸🌊 || ✨️찬이의 “방” 🐺 Ep. 209✨️ (@beachboi1003) May 7, 2024
This is so hurting knowing that Chan and kids really heard all those bad comments / racism to them by those photographers 🥺 but he really a cool and brave leader and handled it professionally, he took his kids away frm them Thank you Bang Chan to always taking care of the kids❤️ https://t.co/VjGvYo8NOY
— ⭐✨ (@lesliedp_) May 7, 2024
Bang Chan is the living example of grace under pressure
I’m endlessly discovering more reasons to be impressed by him https://t.co/MtxPiCbPue— dumpling lover (@AnnIsAStan) May 7, 2024
BANGCHAN THE LEADER.. THE WAY HE CLAPPED HIS HANDS pic.twitter.com/AuwUK2MXFD
— MRS. SAM BANG👰🤵 (@haroon_saman) May 6, 2024
However, fans expressing their immense displeasure and disgust wasn’t enough—they were out for blood.
STAYs doxed the hell out of the paparazzi that were heard saying offensive comments about STRAY KIDS and managed to even hack one of their accounts. STAYs are demanding an apology for the racist comments and are apparently making a statement by doxing the said photographers.
SEAN ZANNI
as an event photographer there is no reason why you should be harassing & throwing sarcastic, racist, unprofessional & disrespectful comments at the subject you are taking a photo of. your level of professionalism is nonexistent… pic.twitter.com/f7SEHumTP9
— kori bang 🎨 SAW ENHYPEN🍊🤍 (@fortheluvofskz) May 7, 2024
‼️I FOUND ALL THE LOSERS ‼️
Sean Zanni = Works for Getty
Dimitrios Kambouris = Works for Getty/WireImage
John Shearer = Works for Getty
Gilbert Flores = Works for Getty/PMC https://t.co/TGhEBbSQii pic.twitter.com/tb5Qqo2mnU— magツ BOYS BE BRAVE | ATEEZ MAY COMEBACK (@rooslad) May 7, 2024
https://twitter.com/3rachamixx/status/1788094335759650928
https://twitter.com/leebititis/status/1787883066259595424
one of the racist photographers here, sean zanni, went priv. may you root in hell. https://t.co/4IsF2CXkRE pic.twitter.com/2ac60oySwh
— aya` 樂★ (@chngbnrl) May 7, 2024
Sean Zanni is the name of the shit reporter saying all that shit, and he works for Independent. https://t.co/Zc4lZzdcqt
— biggerthanbangchansfeet 🍉🍉 (@hyunjins3rdbum) May 7, 2024
This being him 🧍🏻♀️ I need Sean Zanni GONE. May he lose his job, amen. https://t.co/JcwmGLgYhN pic.twitter.com/WgselWQ2Wi
— Veth ^^ is seeing skz/ateez (@skzminchn) May 7, 2024
https://twitter.com/nqtttii/status/1787883459106443400
and to add on top of that
sean zanni = went private on instagram
dimitrios kambouris = delete completely his account
john shearer = suddenly unfollowed all his racist & xenophobic co-workers
gilbert flores = deactivate his comment section pic.twitter.com/MuQe1O175S— magツ BOYS BE BRAVE | ATEEZ MAY COMEBACK (@rooslad) May 7, 2024
Sean Zanni were one of the racist and rude photographers at the met photographing #Straykids.
He and some other photographers called them, un-emotional, Robots, Said they were getting COVID and even said “I’ll just take a headshot of each one of you”
I mean the disrespect!? pic.twitter.com/thrI9c1pNi
— i.2.n.8.Nina.hh (@ggb64724442) May 7, 2024
don't forget you're just a stupid paparazzi… a little parasite
it's best that you apologize
you made racist remarks at a charity event… you should be so ashamed…
apologize now 🙂@seanzanni pic.twitter.com/0wvzPj5OFg— 𝐸𝓁𝓎 𝒦𝓃𝑜𝓌 (@ely_xst) May 7, 2024
The best photojournalists? @GettyImagesNews
Sean Zanni = Works for Getty
Dimitrios Kambouris = Works for Getty/WireImage
John Shearer = Works for Getty
Gilbert Flores = Works for Getty/PMC pic.twitter.com/Xer5AZLifV— Cassakane ⁷⁼¹💜 (@Cassakane1) May 7, 2024
Just in case y'all feel like hating the photographer/helping Stays fire this fuckhead for all the racist and disrespectful shit he said!!!!!
DO IT!!!
FIRE SEAN ZANNI!!!! @seanzanni @seanzanni @seanzanni @seanzanni pic.twitter.com/sGi9EvbuPS— $abrina 🩶 loves Gaon 🩵 (@multistan_sabby) May 7, 2024
Racist insults, mocking them and their language, using racist stereotypes, and being unprofessional and disrespectful.
I hope you don't ever get to attend an other #MetGala (#MetGala2024) ever again.
The photographers are:
-Sean Zanni
– Dimitrios Kambouris
-John Shearer pic.twitter.com/k1Q5vkskpU— meh樂✭¹⁷∞⁸🥢 (@justmeibeingmeh) May 7, 2024
As commendable as their loyalty is to STRAY KIDS, STAYs are also in the wrong for this one. Doxing a person and publicizing all their private information isn’t the legal way of doing things. It’s problematic, to say the least.
Why? Because publicizing sensitive information about a person could prove to be harmful to them in the long run. Yes, what those paparazzi did was unforgivable, but it shouldn’t have to come to doxing.
Emailing and communicating the problem to their respective employers should have been enough. That, in itself, causes harm in more ways than one. Doxing, on the other hand, is too risky as it could even lead to a court case in the future.
Trust us, we really do applaud the loyalty and the morals that fans have. Racism truly shouldn’t even be present at this point, but still, for some reason, it does.
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