Oscar-nominee Meryl Streep has accused Karl Lagerfeld of ruining her big moment at this year’s Academy Awards with bitter row over her dress
Hollywood legend has claimed the feud has overshadowed her record-breaking 20th nomination
MERYL Streep has accused Karl Lagerfeld of ruining the Oscars for her by sparking a bitter war-of-words over her dress.
The fashion legend sparked a vicious feud with the actress over a Chanel gown ear-marked for her turn on the red carpet in Los Angeles tonight.
He claimed the Oscar-winner turned down the chance to wear his dress and went instead went with another fashion brand which would offer a fee.
Lagerfled's comments to WWD.com sparked a public war-of-words between the pair, and the actress has now claimed it has cast a shadow over this year's ceremony.
She has been celebrating landing her 20th nomination after scooping a best actress nod for her turn in Florence Foster Jenkins.
But she is adamant the row has ruined this year's Oscars for her.
She said in a statement released to People.com: "Karl Lagerfeld, a prominent designer, defamed me, my stylist, and the illustrious designer whose dress I chose to wear, in an important industry publication...
"That publication printed this defamation, unchecked. Subsequently, the story was picked up globally...
"And continues, globally, to overwhelm my appearance at the Oscars, on the occasion of my record breaking 20th nomination...
"And to eclipse this honour in the eyes of the media, my colleagues and the audience.
“I do not take this lightly, and Mr. Lagerfeld’s generic ‘statement’ of regret for this ‘controversy’ was not an apology.
"He lied, they printed the lie, and I am still waiting."
The controversy started when Lagerfeld talked to WWD about Meryl's Oscar dress, claiming she pulled out of wearing Chanel after production had started on the dress.
He claimed her team said:"'Don’t continue the dress. We found somebody who will pay us'."
Meryl hit back in a strongly-worded statement, insisting she would never accept money to wear a dress to the Academy Awards.
Lagerfeld attempted to end the bitter battle by issuing his own statement, insisting he "regrets" the "misunderstanding".
In the statement, he explained: "Chanel engaged in conversations with Ms. Streep’s stylist, on her request, to design a dress for her to wear to the Academy Awards.
"After an informal conversation, I misunderstood that Ms. Streep may have chosen another designer due to remuneration, which Ms. Streep’s team has confirmed is not the case.
"I regret this controversy and wish Ms. Streep well with her 20th Academy Award nomination.”