When Karl Lagerfeld, the creative juggernaut behind the rise of brands like Chanel and Fendi, passed away on Tuesday, the entire fashion world mourned. Personal testimonials on his kindness and strength of character flooded the internet. "Karl... I cannot tell you how much you meant to me and how much I will miss you. I will never forget your kindness towards me, your laughs, your imagination. I came to France to see you this week and introduce you to my daughter...I'm heartbroken I was too late. Rest In Peace, I adore you," tweeted actress Diane Kruger. Victoria Beckham noted on Instagram: "So incredibly sad to hear this. Karl was a genius and always so kind and generous to me both personally and professionally." Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace wrote: "Karl, your genius touched the lives of so many, especially Gianni and I. We will never forget your incredible talent and endless inspiration. We were always learning from you."
But, writing an obituary in the age of #MeToo can be a difficult task. How does one reconcile his dark side—problematic political statements on topics as diverse as #MeToo and Europe's immigration crisis—with his towering accomplishments? In this case, a cultural behemoth who overhauled the Coco Chanel brand, incorporating the once-revolutionary silhouettes of the 1920s and 1930s and blending it with current, marketable elements; the renowned creative director of Fendi, who gifted it the iconic 'F and reverse F' logo.
Here are some controversial statements he made all through his career. In 2013, Lagerfeld reportedly told a French television channel that nobody wanted to see "curvy women" on television. He said, as Toronto Sun reported, “They are fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television, saying that thin models are ugly.” The Independent reported his 2017 statement on the German migrant crisis, speaking on French television: “I’m going to say something horrible. You can’t—even if there are decades between both events—kill millions of Jewish people and then welcome millions of their worst enemies afterwards.” According to Vox, Lagerfeld dubbed renowned British singer Adele "fat", and would speak about Pippa Middleton, sister of Kate Middleton, thus: "I don’t like the sister’s face. She should only show her back.” He spoke out about the #MeToo movement in an interview with the fashion magazine Numéro, stating, according to The Independent: “I read somewhere that now you must ask a model if she is comfortable with posing. It’s simply too much, from now on, as a designer, you can’t do anything. If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model. Join a nunnery, there’ll always be a place for you in the convent.”
In death, is an intense autopsy of the unsavoury portions of his life doing him a disservice? When does an obit stop becoming an obit, and morph into a distasteful assault? Conversely, should we shut down honest conversations on a figure as all-powerful as Lagerfeld, in an industry as exploitative as fashion? Perhaps the answer lies with the man himself, someone with the power to dictate global fashion trends. In life, Lagerfeld was an iconoclast. In death, maybe it is time we see him with the same irreverent candour. We all deserve it.
-Inputs from PTI
