First Lady Michelle Obama’s Fashion Statement at Kids Choice Awards-Truth! & Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
A viral email claims that First Lady Michelle Obama made a questionable fashion statement at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, and that taxpayers footed the bill for her outfit.
The Truth:
It’s true that Michelle Obama appeared at the Kids Choice Awards in 2012, but taxpayers didn’t foot the bill for her wardrobe.
The first lady presented the Big Help award to Taylor Swift at the Kids Choice Awards ceremony. The award recognized Swift for helping to raise money for tornado survivors and for volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Wes Gordon designed the outfit that Michelle Obama wore to the ceremony the fashion website Red Carpet Fashion Awards reports:
“The First Lady wore a Wes Gordon Spring 2012 tunic with silver metallic Helmut Lang jeans.
“Her Wes Gordon three-quarter length sleeved tunic with a silver embellished houndstooth print is slightly modified from the version presented on the model; the plunge isn’t so deep and Mrs O has opted to turn down the collar.
“Simple black pumps completed her look.
“I think she found the right balance of looking event appropriate, age appropriate and stylish.”
A forwarded email that surfaced shortly after the Kids Choice Awards ceremony claimed that Michelle Obama’s outfit was too racy for the ceremony. The email also said, “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else there’s your TAX dollars!”
But the claim that taxpayers footed the bill for Michelle Obama’s fashion choices isn’t true. A press secretary for the first lady saidshe pays for most of her clothes out of pocket, but designers donate some dresses. Those dresses become property of the U.S. government and are stored by the National Archives.
As with every public personality, debate will continue about Michelle Obama’s fashion choices. However, claims that taxpayers pay the bills for it are false.