An awkward moment between Stella McCartney and Chloe Fineman from the 2023 Met Gala has gone viral.
The designer, 51, was interviewed by SNL comedian, 34, who served as Vogue’s red carpet co-host for the evening, along with Derek Blasberg.
They were joined by actresses Aubrey Plaza and Madelyn Cline – whom McCartney dressed for the event – during the livestream, and things quickly got awkward.
At one point, McCartney called out Fineman for laughing during the interview and asked, “Aren’t you taking this seriously?”
‘I am!’ Fineman replied, McCartney retorting, “I think it’s very serious.”
Many fans called the interview “cringe” and “awkward”, but others insisted that all the ladies were joking and were just being sarcastic.
The interview began with Fineman introducing the guests as McCartney and Cline, but did not call the White Lotus star by her real name, and instead introduced Plaza as “Audrey”.
The actress then provided her own made-up last name, calling herself “Slutburn.”
The two have a history together and have appeared together on Saturday Night Live on several occasions.
Fineman then asked about McCartney’s look for the night – a dazzling structured blazer dress and shimmering silver stockings – to which Stella snapped, “It’s a look. And that’s about it.
The tense atmosphere continued after Plaza described her white dress as simply “Stella McCartney.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? McCartney replied.
Plaza continued, “That’s right, durable Stella,” and the British designer added, “McCartney.”
Following Plaza’s response, Fineman and Blasberg began to laugh, at which point McCartney called her and asked if she wasn’t taking the interview “seriously”.
“No, I – I’ll be more serious,” Fineman replied, as she and Blasberg tried to change the subject.
Fineman then asked McCartney when she took over the Chloé brand after Karl Lagerfeld left in 1997.
This year, the theme for the ball was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The late German designer was Chanel’s longtime creative director. He died aged 85 in 2019.
The atmosphere then relaxed, as McCartney – who is the daughter of Beatles legend Paul McCartney and photographer Linda McCartney – recalled an anecdote about Lagerfeld.
“My favorite moment about it – and that’s where I felt I had really arrived – was when Karl found out I had taken over as the brand’s successor, his quote was “I knew they would take on a big name when I left the brand, but I thought it would be a big name in fashion, not music.”‘
Fineman responded with “burn!” while Blasberg added, “A king of one liners!”
“I loved it, I was like, oh, Karl Lagerfeld knows who I am,” McCartney said of the dig.
Plaza and Cline – who was attending the event for the first time – both looked amazing.
Plaza hit the red carpet in a white off-the-shoulder dress designed by McCartney with an unconventional diagonal cutout across her chest.
The cutout was accented with shimmering silver material that also fell down her back and fell over her hip.
The actress had her dark hair swept up in a bun while accessorizing with diamond-encrusted teardrop earrings by EFFY Jewelry.
Cline stunned in a shimmering black gown with silver embellishments, while Fineman wowed in a pink gown with a black rose embellished neckline.