Anna Wintour Reveals How Baz Luhrmann Once Convinced Rihanna to Dance on a Met Gala Table

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As someone who’s spent countless nights at music events and galas, I can confidently say that this particular soiree was nothing short of extraordinary! The energy Charli XCX brought to the stage was infectious, and seeing the likes of Cara Delevingne, Cooper Koch, and Kaia Gerber letting loose and grooving along was a sight to behold. It’s not every day you get to witness such a star-studded dance party!

LACMA‘s Art + Film gala entered its brat era over the weekend.

The marquee event at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art occurred on its premises over the weekend, with the defiant energy of headliner Charli XCX and her transformative album “brat” echoing throughout the celebration. The red carpet underwent a green transformation, Anna Wintour commended honoree Baz Luhrmann for his manic creative energy and his past persuasion of Rihanna to dance on a table at the Met Gala, Kim Kardashian stirred up talk by donning another significant fashion artifact, and Chloe Sevigny incited the crowd to cheer loudly for Charli. The evening was electrified by Charli’s brief performance alongside her Sweat Tour companion Troye Sivan. Even Mother Nature added a touch of rebellion by sprinkling rain, an unusual event in a city like Los Angeles.

Every year since its debut in 2011, the A-list event, graciously sponsored by Gucci, has been known as the West Coast’s Met Gala equivalent, a title that the Academy Museum Gala has been trying to snatch away due to its glamorous and star-studded Hollywood crowd. However, Art + Film is maintaining its grip on this title with over 650 invitees hailing from the realms of art, fashion, film, business, and beyond. Notable attendees include Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, co-chair Leonardo DiCaprio, mogul David Geffen, and Kim Kardashian. Moreover, this event broke a record by raising an impressive $6.4 million.

This weekend, Art + Film event made an impressive showing by inviting Met Gala mastermind Wintour on stage to pay tribute to honoree Luhrmann, who is known to Wintour as a long-time friend. During her speech, Wintour shared some behind-the-scenes stories about the fundraiser for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Before revealing those details, she talked about an unexpected consultation she sought from Luhrmann regarding one of her children’s weddings. She mentioned that when she asked for his advice, he arranged for violinists dressed as nymphs to play in all the trees at the venue – a detail that seems to be related to the 2018 wedding of her daughter Bee Schaffer. In addition, Luhrmann got the groomsmen to surprise everyone with a chorus of trumpets.

For several years now, Lurhmann has been affectionately referred to as the “exceptional impresario” at the Met Gala by Wintour. This role has given him ample opportunity to provide lavish creative guidance, as explained by Wintour. A unique vision of his, she said, was a massive spring stretching across the entire building’s facade, which, when raised, would unveil the Frank Ocean Orchestra, meticulously costumed, choreographed, and rehearsed by Vogue stand-ins, standing in for an actual orchestra. Lurhmann, of course, would serve as the maestro.

She provided another anecdote: “One time, we organized an event showcasing Chinese art and fashion. Prior to the gala, he declared that the evening wouldn’t proceed unless we found a massive gong for announcing dinner. As we were searching for and trying to arrange delivery of this colossal object, Baz managed to convince Rihanna to astonish everyone by dancing down the middle of the dining table. Coincidentally, we are now barred from hosting dinners in that gallery, but the memory of that night still lingers.

The renowned editor for Vogue, as well as a high-ranking executive at Conde Nast, disclosed that she’s journeyed across the globe with Luhrmann and his creative partner, Catherine Martin, who is also his wife. “I’ve voyaged from the Australian Open in Melbourne to the Vatican, from the gritty pubs of Fleet Street to dinners featuring steak in Washington, with them.

As a devoted gamer, I’ve come to realize one thing about the mastermind behind some of my favorite films like “Romeo + Juliet”, “Moulin Rouge”, “The Great Gatsby”, “Australia”, and “Elvis” – he’s a perfectionist who usually works on his own clock. You won’t find many of his productions starting or ending on time. It seems that Baz just can’t let go of his creations, and honestly, I can’t blame him! I’ve even witnessed him tweaking the final cut of a movie in his car, en route to a premiere. And let me tell you, I wouldn’t want a watered-down version of Baz’s movies on any schedule but his own.

Luhrmann gratefully acknowledged several collaborators present, including DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Blake Lively among the actors. He also encouraged a call to action for all artists in attendance, urging them to shatter the barriers that divide our world currently and uplift the upcoming generation in the process.

Luhrmann emphasized the importance of making room for fresh perspectives, young voices, and new vitality, breaking through the outdated structures we currently inhabit. He didn’t suggest retirement, but rather, that it is our responsibility to carry on the legacy set by those we admire, who paved the way for us.

Renowned attorney Bryan Stevenson, founder of Equal Justice Initiative, had the privilege of paying tribute to Simone Leigh, an acclaimed artist whose work has been celebrated in the program’s artistic section. A native of Chicago, Leigh’s career, spanning over two decades, encompasses various fields such as sculpture in ceramic and bronze, as well as video art. Many of her pieces focus on Black women, their resilience, hard work, and nurturing nature. According to Stevenson, future generations will be examining Leigh’s artwork worldwide.

They’re delving into introspective thought and dialogue about the remarkable artist, Simone Leigh. There’s no doubt in their minds that she is one of the most significant artists of the 21st century. Instead of debating her global influence on contemporary art, they’re primarily interested in uncovering how this artist has fundamentally altered our perception of art and high-end artistic spaces. Simone Leigh is reshaping the art world. By redefining the traditional art record with her sculptures that blend figurative and abstract forms using clay, ceramic, bronze, and fabric, she’s creating a new catalog that emphasizes the beauty, power, dignity, and grace of Black women, a group often misunderstood, distorted, or overlooked in cultural spheres. The impact of Simone’s work is so profound that it’s educating us about the essence, the labor, the love, and the experience of Black women worldwide.

After his heartfelt speech concluded, Stevenson invited Leigh onto the stage to thunderous applause. In response, she kept her comments succinct, which some might say was somewhat ungracious. “This present occasion,” she said, “brings back memories of when my daughter told me that her friends had decided I was ‘cool’. She used to think I was just ‘odd’.” Zenobia, their daughter, was present and Leigh thanked her for helping her become a better person, while also acknowledging “all the Black women who are considered ‘odd’.

After two awards were given out and everyone finished their meals – Michelin-starred chef David Shim from Cote Korean Steakhouse teamed up with Patina Catering for the evening’s menu. Later, Colman Domingo graced the stage to greet guests as they moved to the courtyard for desserts, drinks, and Charli’s performance. This was the only time during the event that the current political climate was addressed from the main stage. “Take a look at this stunning Saturday evening before next week, an extraordinary week,” he said. “Be filled with all the art, love, hope, faith, grace, and joy we can muster to make our world a better place. But let’s step outside and dance as if there’s no tomorrow.

Guests stepped outside, enjoying Diageo cocktails while dancing exuberantly to Charli’s energetic performance. Her set featured popular songs such as “365,” “360,” and “Von Dutch.” The evening concluded with a surprise appearance by Troye Sivan on “Talk Talk.” Notably, famous faces like Cara Delevingne, Cooper Koch, and Kaia Gerber were spotted enjoying themselves, dancing, and waving their arms in the air. It was truly a ‘very brat’ night.

See all the stars in attendance with The Hollywood Reporter’s arrivals gallery here.

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2024-11-05 03:26