Who said it’s not profitable to work for the Chinese Communist Party?
Eileen Gu, the American-born Olympic athlete known for her commitment to competing for China, made a bold statement at the 2026 Met Gala in New York. She dazzled in a dress composed of 15,000 glass bubbles, a creation that took a remarkable 2,550 hours to produce.
“I’m literally wearing art,” the 22-year-old exclaims. “Today I’m wearing Iris van Herpen, which is very special. This look is definitely about bubbles. It’s about movement, nature, and fun and whimsical play… I have 15,000 glass bubbles. They’re made of glass. It’s incredible. 2,500 hours of work, insane!”
Gu’s gown featured technology that allowed the bubbles to float with her every step, adding an extra flourish to her look.
While the exact value of Gu’s dress hasn’t been disclosed, fashion experts speculate it could be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
One might wonder how a 22-year-old manages to access such incredible technology.
Well, the People’s Republic of China, known for its controversial labor practices, seems to have played a role in providing Gu with the financial means to enjoy such luxuries.
As reported, a 2025 public budget indicated that the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau had plans to pay Gu and fellow American figure skater Zhu Yi a combined total of $6.6 million.
However, their names were soon removed from the budget after it was released.
In 2025, the Beijing Sports Bureau was set to pay Gu and another athlete a total of $6.6 million.
The budget, disclosed in early 2025, initially included Gu’s and Zhu’s names, although it lacked detailed payment breakdowns. Given Gu’s status as a three-time Olympic medalist, it’s likely she was slated to receive a larger share.
The plan was to allocate nearly 100 million yuan, or around $14 million, over three years to enhance preparations for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.
When questioned about potentially profiting from a government known for its human rights issues, specifically related to the treatment of Uyghur Muslims, Gu appeared unfazed.
“I’m not an expert on this,” the California native said during an interview with TIME. “I haven’t done any research. I don’t think that’s my job. I’m not going to make big claims on social media.”
TIME pressed her further, especially considering her major in international relations at Stanford University. The interviewer inquired if she should have looked more deeply into the Uyghur genocide.
“I’m generally rather skeptical when it comes to data,” she replied. “You can’t just read an article and think, ‘Okay, this must be true.’ You need a lot of evidence. Maybe you need to go to the place and talk to people who have actually experienced it.”
“Then you need to look at images, listen to recordings, and think about how history influences itself. Reading books on how politics shape history is also essential. This is a lifelong endeavor.”
Considering her stature as an Olympic athlete and her frequent travels to China, many might assume Gu would take the opportunity to visit Xinjiang to investigate the treatment of Uyghurs. Yet, there’s no record of her doing so.
It seems Gu is quite selective about her research pursuits.
