Kim Kardashian West wore one of the evening’s most iconic and talked-about outfits as she appeared at the Met Gala in 2021.

The reality star was completely covered from head to toe in an all-black Balenciaga outfit that covered her entire body (including her face), with only a 75-inch, floor-length ponytail visible.

Her outfit sparked a flurry of social media memes, which included comparisons to Harry Potter’s dementors and The Sims’ Grim Reaper.

While some on Twitter thought Kim was bringing attention to the plight of women in Afghanistan and other Islamist countries, others thought her outfit mocked those who are forced to wear a burqa.

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“Sorry @kimkardashian, this doesn’t feel right after the return of the Taliban & burqas in Afghanistan.#MetGala #MetGala2021”

“In Afghanistan, women are forced to cover up by the Taliban,” one netizen quipped. “I think @KimKardashian has bad taste in general, but this is really bad taste.”

Another added, “It’s oppression in the East and somehow ‘fashion’ in the West?”

Some said Kim’s outfit didn’t fit the theme of this year’s gala, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” but she disagreed and defended her decision to wear it on Instagram.

“What’s more American than a T-shirt head to toe?!” the 40-year-old actress captioned a photo of herself attending the Monday event.

Her post, however, elicited a mixed response from Instagram users.

“Wait you still got your make-up done?” said one Instagram user, while another wrote, “ya maybe American horror story.”

Another added, “What’s more American than KIM KARDASHIAN WEST THO.”

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Another said, “Honey YOU are THE American Style!!! Only YOUUU can go dressed like that and be immediately recognized! ICOOOONNNNNNN.”

“How you the most talked about person at an event and nobody can even see you? THATS LEGENDARY,” one user wondered. Another added, “I will never understand this look.”

Her point was acknowledged by a few influential fashion figures. Kim shared remarks on Instagram from fashion bloggers Bryanboy and Ritvika Ojha, who noticed the “statement” she was presumably attempting to send with the look’s “simplicity.”

Kim has form when it comes to out-there Met Gala ensembles – remember that infamous ‘couch dress’ by Givenchy? – but her latest look was by far her most daring yet.