Taryn Manning Slams Stylist for Her $200 Dress at the SAG Awards, Then Backtracks - and the Brand Responds

Alex Apatoff
Updated

Taryn Manning made headlines Sunday for donning a SAG Awards dress that was only $200 – and available at your favorite department store. But while many were thrilled to see an affordable dress at a major Hollywood awards show, one person wasn’t as happy about it: the Orange Is the New Black star herself.

Asked by TMZ about the choice to wear the Adrianna Papell gown, Manning criticized her stylist Chaunielle Brown for the choice. “It’s wack that my stylist didn’t tell me that,” she said. “Now everyone else can afford it, that’s what’s cool about it, but it still sucks for me. I want to be in like a superstar gown … So the designer got a lot of press. She should pay me a lot of money.”

On Wednesday, the brand responded to Manning’s diss in a statement given to PeopleStyle, saying “Clothing plays a key role in fostering confidence, allowing inner beauty and personality to shine through. We believe all women—regardless of shape, size, ethnicity, or income—deserve access to beautiful gowns and dresses. Our price points, brand mission, and activities within the community reflect this belief. We are still proud to count Taryn Manning among the women who have chosen to celebrate life’s milestones in our gowns. We’ve found that the tide has truly turned when it comes to wearing affordable fashion on the red carpet thanks to the likes of Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton. Along with Manning, we’ve been lucky enough to dress her costar Jolene Purdy, Rebel Wilson, Shawn Johnson East, Jodie Sweetin, Kaela Settle, Kathie Lee Gifford and many others.”

Hey guys:) I first want to say I’m sorry for the comments I made while being bombarded by paparazzi about my stylist and my dress. Let’s be clear, I loved my @adriannapapell dress and I’m friends with my stylist @chaunielle_brown I felt so beautiful and I was proud to be there to support my amazing cast of strong women and celebrate our nomination. But styling should be a collaboration between the artist, stylist and the designer. I was completely caught off guard when all of the press about my dress was about the cost, which I knew nothing about, and I felt used for someone else’s gain. There was nothing out there about why I was there in the first place. I would have loved to embrace that my dress was affordable at SAG, especially since so much about fashion is unattainable, but I wasn’t given that chance. Every artist dreams of wearing couture on a red carpet if given the opportunity. But I am happy to be the proof that there is more to feeling confident, beautiful and happy on the inside than just a price tag #love ??????????

A post shared by Taryn Manning™ (@tarynmanning) on Jan 25, 2018 at 7:48pm PST

After her comments picked up steam on the internet last week, Manning clarified her position on Instagram, writing “I was completely caught off guard when all of the press about my dress was about the cost, which I knew nothing about, and I felt used for someone else’s gain.” She added that she loved the dress and is friends with Brown, and concluded “I am happy to be the proof that there is more to feeling confident, beauty and happy on the inside than just a price tag.”

If you want your own red carpet moment (with or without accompanying controversy), the dress is still available for $199 at Macy’s and Bloomingdales.