In a world where social media reigns supreme, the line between reality and fiction often blurs. The recent uproar surrounding Hayley Kalil’s Met Gala video is a testament to this phenomenon. The model and influencer, known as ‘Haleyy Baylee’ online, was in a social media storm following her lip-syncing to the infamous phrase “Let them eat cake” at the 2024 Met Gala.
The video quickly gained traction and featured Haley lip-syncing to a famous line from Kristen Dunst’s 2006 film, Marie Antoinette: “Let them eat cake.” The choice of audio and the opulence of the Met Gala led viewers to draw parallels with the dystopian world of the Hunger Games, specifically the notorious Capitol.
The phrase “Let them eat cake” is often attributed to Marie Antoinette, the Queen consort of France during the late 18th century. However, historical evidence doesn’t confirm her saying it. The phrase became associated with Marie Antoinette due to the perception of royal decadence amidst widespread poverty in pre-revolutionary France.
Fast-forward to the 21st century, Kalil’s use of the phrase at the Met Gala, an event known for its exclusivity and opulence, sparked accusations of tone-deafness. Her video garnered millions of views on TikTok and prompted backlash for being insensitive amid global crises. Critics drew parallels to the opulent lifestyle depicted in The Hunger Games, accusing Kalil of flaunting extreme wealth.
@haleyybaylee MET GALA 2024 WHAT IS MY LIFE 😭🥹🥹 gown by @Marc Bouwer 🙇♀️ @E! News @E! Entertainment #MetGala2024 #livefromE ♬ Let Them Eat Cake – vibeyvidz
Despite the backlash, Kalil defended her sound choice, stating it was used solely because her dress was Marie Antoinette-themed. She emphasized her intention to honor the Marie Antoinette theme, but critics questioned her awareness of current events.
In a nearly nine-minute-long video on TikTok, Kalil responded to viewers’ outrage. She explained that she had been invited to the event as a pre-Met Gala host, tasked with interviewing and making content with celebrities while receiving no pay. She stated she had not attended as a guest and “went home” to watch the event with friends after completing her designated tasks.
Influencer Hayley Kalil responds to the backlash she received over her “let them eat cake” #METGALA video.
The phrase stems from the French Revolution and Queen Marie Antoinette being told that those in poverty didn’t have any bread, to which she is said to have replied, “Let… PIC.TWITTER.COM/GMSKHAN5O6
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) MAY 10, 2024
Kalil then apologized for TikTok’s controversial audio; “I am so, so, so sorry that I chose a sound that you could ever possibly feel was malicious in nature.” She claimed she would have never picked the audio had she anticipated people’s reaction. According to her, the audio choice encompassed “no deeper meaning.”
“I never thought it would be taken in that way because I wasn’t elite enough to be invited to the Met Gala,” Haley said. I’m not elite; I am a normal person.”
Nonetheless, many viewers did not take the apology well and called Haley “out of touch,” especially for calling herself a “normal person”. Multiple comments claimed to be coming from “District 12,” a reference to the Hunger Games, and one person even wrote, “We’re giving you the Marie Antoinette experience.”
However, some defended Haley and insisted the backlash was an ‘overreaction’ and that her apology seemed “genuine.”
