Here are some new photos of Karl Lagerfeld looking like an ancient grandpa trolling for strange in downtown Miami. What he’s really doing is being driven around with his “muse” Baptiste Giabiconi in Paris. Interesting…
Anyway, in the July issue of Vogue (the one with Marion on the cover), there’s a big article about the Met Gala, which was back in May. It’s hilarious and interesting, mainly for the Lady Gaga and Oprah parts, of which there are too many to even go into. You should buy the mag just for the whole article, just take my word for it. Within the piece, Vogue asks various designers and models and actresses what they think of Oprah (who was the co-chair of the event) and Gaga (who was the headlining performer at the event). When they got around to asking The Kaiser himself, Karl Lagerfeld, his comments were very interesting:
Karl Lagerfeld walks past.
“Oprah and Mrs. Obama are really the American women,” he says. “At least that is the way Europe sees it.”
And where does Lady Gaga fit in?
“I like the idea that they are so different. I hate average. And they are certainly not average.”
[From Vogue, July issue, print]
You know what this means, right? We have to throw another piece onto Karl Lagerfeld’s ongoing List of Hate. I can’t even keep up with all of the additions from month to month. He hates children, potato chips, fat mothers, the sun, and so, so, so much more. And now he hates “average”. But he seems to have a strange kind of affection for Oprah. What would you pay to see Lagerfeld interviewed by Oprah? I mean, I can’t even. That would be too golden.
Header: Karl Lagerfeld on June 23, 2010. Credit: WENN.
Oprah and Mrs. Obama are really the American women,” he says. “At least that is the way Europe sees it.”
…. And this is coming from a corpse. 🙁
America is much more diverse than that.
So they see us as having a sense of entitlement and a big ‘ol butt?
maybe i’m be super thick today, but i don’t see his comments as criticism? i would be proud if europeans really think of these women as “average” americans. they’re extremely successful, intelligent, hardworking, beautiful women.
rock on average american women!
The American woman – I think he means intelligent, powerful, assertive, successful, beautiful – they are icons of style and success!
Ellie – I didn’t think it was criticism, I just found it interesting. I love the way this crazy old bastard’s mind works.
Ditto, Ellie.
I love the line “trolling for strange”! 😀
Love him!!! Not afraid to speak his mind and offend – gold comes out of this man’s mouth everytime he speaks
So now he speaks for all of Europe? Do they think we’re all black?
omg oprah should totally interview him! Or NO Letterman! GOLD
I thought he was disdainful of anything that weighed more than 80 lbs.?
What happened to Anger Bear?
Sooo I don’t even WTF he is talking about concerning the American women comment but it didn’t sound like an insult.
I soooo feel him on Gaga. I love she isn’t average either, she is totally different. I am not a huge fan of average either…especially when on a daily basis I feel an overwhelming urge to be average because of the pressure from society, I am always impressed by people who aren’t average.
I don’t know where in Europe he lives. Nobody here sees Michelle Obama as average. I do, and that’s why I don’t like her. I can’t see anything special about her. On the other hand her husband sure is VERY good looking *swoon*
I’m not sure how a sense of entitlement would play into it. Whatever you may think of them, they’ve both earned everything that they have, and in an environment that can be downright hostile towards women and minorities, that’s a huge feat. I agree with everyone who says it was just an interestingly-worded observation not meant to obscure any kind of malice because if Herr Hosenscheiβe is feeling it, he’s not going to play the shrinking violet.
I’m not really Oprah’s biggest fan, but I certainly don’t froth at the mouth at the mention of her name. As far as cultural ambassadors go, in her case and Obama’s you can certainly do worse. Oprah’s looking pretty good in that first picture too, huh?
Um, he’s right!
If you go anywhere else in the world no matter what your ethnic background is, they will recognize you as an AMERICAN.
However, back in the good ‘ole USA you’re not a “real” American if you’re not white. Karl is speaking the truth.
meme – Don’t even know where to start with comment. You illustrate how some white americans don’t see POC as “real” Americans. If you did, then you wouldn’t be bothered by Oprah and the First Lady representing America..
Whenever I see him, I laugh because I think a snowy grill
http://totallylookslike.com/2009/11/03/snowy-grill-totally-looks-like-karl-kagerfeld/
I think Iggles makes a good point. I’m not looking at those photos and thinking, ‘who is going to act as a representative for the sorely under-exposed face of white America?’ I mean, Oprah was the co-chair of the Gala, why wouldn’t she be mentioned? And I’m not sure what’s more American than First Lady of The United States of America. There was also some discussion of Lady Gaga, so I’m not sure what the ‘problem’ is, except that there isn’t one.
thank god the 1st lady abandoned that god-awful hairdo from the campaign trail…it made her look 90.
“However, back in the good ‘ole USA you’re not a “real” American if you’re not white…”
This is not true of the vast majority of Americans. Don’t make it sound like it is. Karl was NOT making a racial statement at all. I will never understand why people here in the US get so hung up on race like this, and I know the rest of the world doesn’t understand it either. I don’t get the people who insist on going around ‘proving’ how diverse we are.
That’s too bad!
My problem with Karl’s choices is that he picked two uber rich celebrities. This does not at all reflect most American women. It’s superficial, but so is he.
If SOME people on this posting could look beyond skin color, I don’t think Lagerfeld sees American women as “all Black” — whatever that weird comment means.
I think the epitome of the American woman is a hard-working, caring, modern, original, inventive, instilled with values of being an entrepreneur, educated, and generous..and these women have it. These are great AMERICAN qualities, period. if we were truly race blind, we could see those qualities without having to make any comment on skin color.
Of course, there will be those that disagree with his opinion..probably the ones that think we need to “take our country back” (whatever that means).
**And kudos to the rest of the posters– I love how Celebitchy has more and more posters that make comments about the character of people featured, not skin color.
Right on Denise, many American women pay no attention to Oprah and Michelle, and if truth and not politics mattered, Laura Bush is every bit as intelligent as Michelle but we know why she was never praised – and I’m an honest lib for stating this. As for Lady Gaga, please there are so many better female artists that aren’t famewhores to praise (Alison Ireheta for starters) but Karl is enrapt with celebrity these days not talent or substance.
@iggles – i am a POC
“However, back in the good ‘ole USA you’re not a “real” American if you’re not white.”
WHAT. Bullshit. I suppose you’re implying that those of us living in the vast, uncivilized “flyover states” are the ones that feel that way.
The _entire_ point of being American is being part of a heterogeneous melting pot.
Karl Lagerfeld and Donatella Versace are the same person
@ Denise – “My problem with Karl’s choices is that he picked two uber rich celebrities.”
They might be uber-rich celebrities today but they came from absolutely nothing and their success is the result of their hard work. What could be more American than that?
I guess he should have said: “Europe thinks Mary Jane Smith of Whereisthis, Ohio and that homeless woman who refused to give her real name at the LA soup kitchen last night are “The American Women”. Because everyone in Europe knows those two.
@ Des
What Karl should have done was not single out anyone in particular. He should have just voiced what in his mind personifies an American woman.
As a European woman I can tell you that our image of the average American woman is Britney Spears. That’s no compliment btw.
Oi, I think that’s exactly the point Iggles was trying to make. That comment wasn’t in response to the article itself, but to one of the posts on this thread that introduced race into the conversation, effectively honouring your request before you made it.
Thank God he didn’t say Lindsay Lohan & Miley Cyrus. I am actually suprised he picked 2 classy & successful women.
Oi – Well, I’m offended by institutional racism. Unfortunately, that doesn’t negate it’s existence.
Let’s get real. When politicians talk about “real Americans” it’s a code word for white. It’s similar but much more explicit than the other code words “hardworking” and “middle class” americans — as if POC can’t be hardworking or middle class.
My mom’s family has been in the US for far longer than many Americans of European descent yet somehow they’re not considered “real” Americans by the mainstream. They/We are the “other” or “exotic”. It’s ridiculous.
For the record I consider myself a real American. I define myself. But that doesn’t mean discrimination, racism, and racial+gender stereotypes suddenly cease to exist in American society.
Lagerfeld used to be a VERY FAT person,
makes me laugh how people forget that…
(btw, Grumpyoldguy= CLASSIC!!) Scary,
indeed
@ Iggles:
“For the record I consider myself a real American. I define myself.”
I LOVE this.
@ annaloo:
If SOME people on this posting could look beyond skin color, I don’t think Lagerfeld sees American women as “all Black” — whatever that weird comment means.
Spot on! I agree with the rest of your post.
Meme – Regardless of your ethnic background, your comment missed the mark (i.e., did not get what he was saying) and what you wrote was racialized.
Oprah and Michelle Obama are both women. How come you didn’t say, “Do they think we’re all women?” No, it latched on to their blackness and expressed how wrong you felt he was for insinuating that all Americans are Black.
Hehe. Thanks Annaloo 😀
My point is, we’re all real Americans. The only way you’re not is if you’re not a US citizen. Restricting it by race or ethnic background is so ridiculous.
@Iggles – I didn’t say did he think all Americans were women because he was talking about American WOMEN! My comment was not intended to be racially motivated – it was just a comment. And the typical American women is not Michelle Obama or Oprah or Laura Bush or Meryl Streep or Halle Berry or Judge Judy. The average American woman certainly isn’t rich, wearing designer clothing and living in a mansion.
meme
The average American woman certainly isn’t rich, wearing designer clothing and living in a mansion.
Yes Meme , Yes!!!!! A thousand yes-es. That was most definitely my point. That’s why I said, he should have just said ,what he believes empitomizes an American woman. But of course he did’nt and he picked two super rich celebs. Why? probably because to these type of people regular middle/low/working class women don’t matter.
Karl is the best.
The posters who said he was complimenting American women with this comment are correct. He is attributing American women (and Americans in general) with the qualities of hard work, ambition, ingenuity… He is highlighting the whole American dream thing—the only “made” person, is the self-made person, and in America, anyone can be a success if they work hard enough and use their brains and talents, regardless of their background. It is a modern and forewarding thinking image, as opposed to a stuffy, stagnant image.
I agree Meme.. I really like Michelle Obama and Oprah but how about including, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi? They are all very sucessful stylish American women as well.
If anyone here thinks that most Americans DON’T view “average” as white, well, you’re living in a dream world I would love to join.
You may think the poster was making an assumption about most Americans, but it could be JUST as possible that you’re giving Americans faaarr too much credit to truly see America as a melting pot. Remember that big fence they were gonna build between us and Mexico? Or how about that new law in Arizona that is essentially legal racial profiling. Yeah, everyone here is holding hands and singing Kumbaya and reminiscing about what a “melting pot” we are. Please. There are more people trying to keep those who are different out than in. That’s just reality.
@ Ashdin 28. Thanks for that. We think all Europeans are like Peaches Gandolf and Amy Winehouse. Cool, baby, tie a scarf around it and call it chic!
This is not a discussion on the immigration issues we have in this country. It’s a sticky subject. I’m just saying, let’s stick to the topic.
lol@ Melanie 🙂
Mmm Yess that is the way Europe sees it mmm yes I’m Karl Lagerfeld. Anyone else get a sour taste in their mouth just looking at this anorexic a**hole?
Rich with a big a$$? Hmmm, okay. Stupid comment #9,999 from Kunty Karl.
Neenee, I really hate it when one person claims to speak for everyone. Yesss~ LOL. He is such a bitch!
I thought he mentioned them specifically b/c of the event he was at?
Why are people asking why he didn’t mention all of these other celebs?
i’m confuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuused. wah. thread getting too crazy to comment on here. buh bye…
@ Ashdin
As someone who has knowledge of how generalizing works, I’m pretty sure you cannot speak for an entire continent.
I co-sign on all the REALISTIC and INTELLIGENT posts from Iggles and KJ. I’m just sayin’…
But he doesn’t mention Lady GaGa. Do we take this as his vague inclusion of her on his unofficial hate list?
The way I see it, Lagerfeld is the only designer left in Europe who works for a fashion house that is relatively free from corporate hijinks, who can be placed in the uber talented category (same as YSL). All other designers are either owned by LVMH or Salma Hayek’s hubby, and operate for the bottom line now. Lagerfeld still has a standard.
I usually stick to reading the comments and not posting, and i usually enjoy reading the dialogue, including those that i don’t agree with. But how on earth can you hate on Karl???????? The man is absolute GENIUS. I worry about him retiring or dying…. I mean, he does Chanel better than Chanel! And his pretentious c untiness is the icing on the cake!
btw, before u hate, here R some facts:
1) karl was a little kid growing up in germany during the wwII, where his family had everything taken away
2)he won his first prize in fashion when he was only 17
3) he made his money
4) he’s gay and has never hid that
so he does know what it is like to be discriminated, poor, and has worked hard for his money!
LOL @ Melanie 😀
Right, European hate on American culture so much, which is why so many of them eat up blogs like this and our AMERICAN celebrities. *eye roll*
When politicians talk about “real Americans” it’s the code word for white?
Wow.
Talk about a statement which assumes a whole lot and may I say in 2010 is highly paranoid.
As a black woman I always thought that when politicians spoke of “real Americans” it was the code word for blue-collar, working class people who live from paycheck to paycheck and are happy with the occasional meal out at PF Chang’s or TGI Friday’s…no matter what your skin color.
PS-our president is a politician, by the way…but he’s 1/2 black, so is he exempt? How does that work in your formula? Who is he referring to in his code word?
Your comment is a joke and truly absurd.
PS: @KJ-ILLEGAL immigration is a completely different issue. If someone, no matter what their skin color, disagrees with ILLEGAL immigration, it doesn’t mean that they don’t see the “average” American as multi-cultural nor does it make them dislike people of other races.They are two separate issues.
Um….He picked celebrities because if he’d picked unknowns, nobody would know who are what he was talking about. He was probably asked for examples and gave a few options that would be recognizable. I don’t understand what the problem is. And the fact that they’re black didn’t even occur to me until I read all these kinda ridiculous comments.
I don’t see why anyone should be complaining. They are “American Women” and they also happen to be intelligent and successful. So what’s the big deal?
39.Seesie:
June 24th, 2010 at 4:34 pm I agree Meme.. I really like Michelle Obama and Oprah but how about including, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi? They are all very sucessful stylish American women as well.
++++++++++++++++
Why should he have to. If he mentioned; ” Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi”, only would you find it strange? How many “American Women” would he have to mention for you to be comfortable?
American women are celebrities? Vomit.
this is too good to pass
this self entitled bitch “edited” the last print of liberation and gave a great quote showing, again, his deep humility:
“Its horrible what I say, but many have thought they were better than me, and all have failed”
whatever
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/agenda/Noticias/Karl/Lagerfeld/elpepigen/20100623elpepiage_2/Tes
I never thought modeling was so difficult until I saw what this poor Baptiste has to do to get his meal ticket 😛
adressing the “American women” issue:
Oprah is a lot less popular here in europe, what we know is that she’s a succesful woman in tv. but most of us have never seen her program ever (me incl.)
M. Obama is widely popular here (where not?)
both are great, positive, representatives of american woman
lady gaga, um, well…
GrrrlGrace is SPOT on. I could not agree more!
*Claps*
Every time I post here, I read the spiel about how no racist or bigoted comments will be allowed…and yet I see #2’s comment has been allowed to stay. What gives?
Jesus, . . . this is one man’s opinion. Relax. I’m not surprised by this and I agree, though. They are both excellent examples. And, please, let’s stop trying to diefy Angelina Jolie. She’s a mediocre actress famous for fornicating with a married man and hugging and pouting at poor people in front of the press. Call a spade a spade. Laura Bush is no longer on the scene (if she ever was). Hillary, maybe. And you really have to be involved in American politics for Pelosi to register. I doubt Europeans are.
Smile!
he hates himself. he loathes himself, actually. because he wants to use his powers for good but he can’t. he won’t. oh the humanité
Cath:
June 25th, 2010 at 8:15 am Every time I post here, I read the spiel about how no racist or bigoted comments will be allowed…and yet I see #2’s comment has been allowed to stay. What gives?
+++++++++++++++
I saw that comment as being ignorant for the sake of being innocently funny. Didn’t make me laugh and I doubt they thought about what their comment really meant and I’ll add #8 to that. Comments that aren’t too abusive probably have to be reported for removal.
Well, to say that Michelle ‘earned’ everything she’s ever accomplished isn’t quite true – in the truest sense of the word ‘earned’ anyway.
One of her good friends from college has gone on record as saying that Michelle took advantage of every affirmative action program that was offered, and her (Michelle’s) mindset was that doing so is no problem…she’ll take advantage of all such programs.
I think what Michelle can be called is an opportunist.
sara:
June 27th, 2010 at 9:24 am Well, to say that Michelle ‘earned’ everything she’s ever accomplished isn’t quite true – in the truest sense of the word ‘earned’ anyway.
One of her good friends from college has gone on record as saying that Michelle took advantage of every affirmative action program that was offered, and her (Michelle’s) mindset was that doing so is no problem…she’ll take advantage of all such programs.
I think what Michelle can be called is an opportunist.
++++++++++++++++++++
There are no free handouts in affirmative action programs. A person still has to be qualified to get into the school or job they’re trying to get into. Women of all races have benefited most from AA over the years. If she went out and sought programs to put her name out there I would say she “earned” it and every other woman who has done so has “earned” it also.
Hey, I LOVE this site just thought I would let you know =D