The superb actor and feminist Meryl Streep showcased her Elie Saab off-the-shoulder peacock blue fashion statement at the Oscars. Streep is being honored for her 20th nomination for her role in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'.

The activist actor was not amused at the accusations leveled against her by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld that Streep commissioned a custom Chanel creation but cancelled it when the House refused to pay her to wear it.

A representative for Streep fought back that Lagerfeld's statement was false and that it is against her personal ethics to be paid to wear a gown on the red carpet. Lagerfeld, who I personally believe has no time for Meryl Streep's feminist activism, subsequently admitted that the error was his and that he regretted the controversy. But Meryl dismissed Lagerfeld's so-called apology, saying that his comments has eclipsed her celebration-worthy 20th nomination.

"I do not take this lightly, and Mr. Lagerfeld's generic 'statement' of regret for this 'controversy' was not an apology," her statement read.

The imperious Karl Lagerfeld is accustomed to having the last word on everything and Streep wasn't having it. Bravo, Meryl! She accused the designer of defaming her -- which he certainly did suggesting that she accepted bribes to wear clothes --, her stylist and the "illustrious designer" (Elie Saab) whose dress she chose to wear. Streep also castigated WWD for printing the "defamation" in the first place.

The story received global attention, Streep said, and continues "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."

The always haughty Lagerfeld told WWD: "“After we gift her a dress that’s €100,000, we found later we had to pay,” he said. “We give them dresses, we make the dresses, but we don’t pay ... A genius actress, but cheapness also, no?”

A spokesperson for Chanel said that they had engaged in conversations with Streep’s stylist to design a dress for her to wear to the Academy Awards, but were well aware that she was considering options from other design houses: “When informed by the stylist that Ms Streep had chosen a dress by another designer there was no mention of the reason. Chanel wishes to express our continued and deep respect for Ms Streep.”

I suspect that Meryl Streep is up to her nostrils with self-important men. President Trump unleashed a Tweet storm against her earlier in the awards season. Trump & Lagerfeld actually make good company. ~ Anne