Over the past few years, platforms such as Instagram and YouTube have become overrun with social media influencers. You know the types of people I'm talking about: young, beautiful individuals who make money by - well - being young and beautiful. And occasionally promoting some product or service for a bit of cash, of course.
For the most part, these people don't really meet the same level of celebrity as actors or musicians, and the only time we ever really hear about them is if they get involved in some sort of scandal.
Take Australian blogger Newsha Syeh, for example. You probably haven't seen much of her before. However, earlier this month, she attracted a great deal of attention after posting this message on her Instagram story while enjoying her honeymoon in Paris:
"Yesterday at the Louvre, I was stopped at the entrance by a guard for my outfit. He made the most disgusted and horrible gestures and facial expressions, swore at me to cover up, with hate filled eyes stopped me entering. I was heartbroken, because I thought the Louvre enforced this archaic rule [sic]. Turns out it does not."
This is the outfit in question:
Though the Louvre does not have a set dress code listen on their website, their visitor regulations stipulate that guests are not permitted to "wear swimsuits or be naked, barefoot or bare-chested" - and Syeh might just have broken that last rule.
Many of the 25-year-old's fans sympathised with her, and backed her up with her complaints against the Louvre.
"When I visited The Louvre with my sister a few years ago we wore winter clothes with boots and we got denied entry by security for being 'under dressed'," said one person. "They were so rude about it too and cussed us out until we had no choice but to walk away feeling embarrassed. Your outfit is beautiful."
Meanwhile, another added: "We are in the 21st century and there are still people that are hostile about what you’re wearing and the way you wear it. I don’t know what to say, only that I’m extremely speechless."
Others, however, backed up the security guard's rude response, saying, "The dresscode exists in any establishment. It would be correct to think what should be put on when you go to the museum. About hatred in a look and gestures - most likely a fruit of your imagination - but also to look at the half-naked woman coming into LOUVRE (!) with approval or with sympathy the security guard hardly could. Sorry, but I consider that the security guard has done right thing."
Syeh took the experience in her stride, though, and later posted pictures of herself with her wife in another of Paris' famous art galleries, the Musee d'Orsay.
On the one hand, the influencer's outfit probably was a little OTT for the Louvre, and would probably have been more suited to a nightclub or fancy restaurant. On the other hand, the security guard did not have to treat Syeh so badly, and could just have asked her to wear a jacket.
Either way, this situation shouldn't have blown up as much as it did.
The Louvre has not commented on the matter.
