Lena Waithe wore a rainbow cape to the Met Gala and it was truly iconic
(Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Multi-talented actress and producer Lena Waithe has wowed us all by wearing a floor-length rainbow cape to the Met Gala on Monday night.
The Met Gala, an annual fundraising event for the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, is known for its elaborate themes and costumes.
This year’s Met Gala theme of “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” was tackled in a variety of ways by a host of celebrities.
But one of the most stunning — and most political — outfits came from Waithe, who wore a floor-length rainbow flag cape to grace the event.
(Neilson Barnard/Getty)
Absolutely iconic.
According to Refinery29, the Emmy award winner told onlookers at the high-fashion event: “It’s like my skin.
“I’m proud to be in it and put the community on my back to make sure they know I got ’em all the time.”
Waithe, who became the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing last year for her episode of Master of None, interpreted the famed Gala’s theme as “just be yourself.”
“It’s not about church or Catholicism — you were made in God’s image. So, that’s how we rockin’ tonight.”
(Jamie McCarthy/Getty)
In her Emmy acceptance speech in 2017, Waithe powerfully spoke about how LGBT people put on “imaginary capes” whenever they come out.
“Tonight, this cape is not imaginary, it’s rainbow-coloured.” Waithe told Vogue.
“We got the black and brown, you know. I’m reppin’ my community, and I want everybody to know that you can be whoever you are, and be completely proud, and be doin’ it.
“Wear the damn cape.”
Related: Kylie Jenner breaks Met Gala rules to post mixed-gender bathroom selfie
Waithe’s outfit attracted a wave of support and praise on social media.
One Twitter user said: “Lena Waithe wearing a pride flag to a Catholic-themed event… a queer icon.”
(@scholaurship / Twitter)
“The world for all our LGBTQ brothers and sisters feels just a bit safer knowing that she’s out there telling stories. Wasn’t that way so much when I was coming out nearly 35 years ago,” another wrote.
Waithe wasn’t the only LGBT icon to grace the carpet of the Met Gala this year.
Dirty Computer singer Janelle Monáe, who recently came out as queer, took to the event with an understated black and white dress, paired with a halo-like hat.
(Neilson Barnard/Getty)
Speaking to Rolling Stone in April, Monáe called herself “a queer black woman” who wasn’t sure if she was bisexual or pansexual, adding: “I’m open to learning more about who I am.”
The 32-year-old singer had previously shied away from revealing her sexuality, but a recent string of songs and music videos celebrating bi and lesbian people hinted at a growing comfort with her identity.
Actress and model Cara Delevingne has also been praised for her high-fashion outfit at the Met Gala.
Delevingne attended the event wearing a beaded crown, which was described as “slaying the theme” on social media.
(Jamie McCarthy/Getty)
Last month, the model and actress made headlines after hitting out at Coachella’s owner for being “anti-LGBT.”
Delevingne skipped the music festival this year because it’s owned by Philip Anschutz, who has been accused of donating to multiple anti-LGBT hate groups.
