Le Bal des Débutantes used to be nicknamed the Crillon Ball because it took place at the Hotel de Crillon and this is what I called it years ago on this site when celebrities debuted their children at the event. For some reason, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughters, Rumer and Scout, come to mind, I think it’s because Demi was still married to Ashton Kutcher back then and we gossiped about them a lot.
Other celebrity children who’ve debuted at Le Bal des Débutantes include Lori Harvey, Lily Collins, Billie Lourd, and Ava Phillippe. Usually the debutante who gets the most attention is the one whose parents are the most famous. And this year it’s Apple Martin, the first child of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.
Gwyneth has had a longstanding association with Valentino which is probably why the house’s new creative director, Alessandro Michele, previously of Gucci, custom-designed Apple’s dress and secured Apple a feature in Vogue.
These are the two thoughts that came to mind when I first saw this dress: it’s the spiritual sister to Gwyneth pink Ralph Lauren that she wore when she won her Oscar. One is pink and one is blue the fabrics aren’t the same, but they exist in a similar range on the style spectrum. Category: a dress for white women with inheritances.
The second thought: is it just me or does Apple Martin looks so much like Ivanka Trump, I can’t f-cking unsee it.
As is customary, Apple was supported at the Bal by her family – her parents, her grandmother, Blythe Danner, and also her brother, Moses. Gwyneth shared videos and photos on Instagram:
Also Apple and Chris were filmed dancing together at one point:
@parismatch Apple Martin, fille de Gwyneth Paltrow et de Chris Martin, est la star du Bal des débutantes ce 30 novembre à Paris. Elle a dansé au bras de son père et de son cavalier, le Comte Leo Henckel von Donnersmarck
♬ Pretty (Sped Up) - MEYY
But Apple is going viral for another video from the event, when she appears to slide into the frame while another deb is having her photo taken and pull focus.
@parismatch #applemartin #baldesdebutantes #chrismartin #gwynethpaltrow #valentinocouture
♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) - Tommy Richman
As usual, people are not being normal about this online and the comments have turned toxic and as usual I’m disappointed at the internet because, once again, they haven’t done their research.
Remember the part about Le Bal des Débutantes being a debutante ball for the daughters of the wealthy and famous? In 2024-speak, we’re calling it the “nepo-baby ball”. In other words, a level playing field for privilege. There are no Cinderellas here. The sporting equivalent for this party would be like if everyone at the start line was doping. Are we seriously judging Apple for being too “all about me” at the f-cking NEPO-BABY BALL!?!
This is what they’re supposed to do. This is the whole point of this goddamn exercise is to twirl around in their riches and specialness. So what I’m trying to say is… APPLE MARTIN UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT.
And, by the way, the girl whose shot she sashayed into is Sofia Yadigaroglu, the daughter of artist Inma Barrero and Ion Yadigaroglu, a venture capitalist who was an early investor in Tesla and SpaceX which makes him if not already probably close to being a billionaire. Sofia is going to be fine and Sofia probably understands this game better than you think.
Imagine behaviour-policing the debutantes at the nepo-baby ball with humbleness as a desired attribute, LOOOOLLLL. This is already a silly event. It’s Succession not Ted Lasso. By that standard, Apple came out of it a star.
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