Ripley's Believe It or Not! says it is "confident" that it did not cause damage to the historic Marilyn Monroe dress worn by Kim Kardashian at this year's Met Gala in May.
The franchise said despite the controversy over the reality TV star's wearing of the dress at the exclusive fashion event in New York, the garment was "in the same condition it started in".
Outrage was sparked after photos posted online by collector Scott Fortner appeared to show damage to the back of the gown after the gala.
Fortner told PA that Ripley's had been "irresponsible" to loan the dress to Kardashian and that its only intention had been "publicity" rather than preserving the historical item.
In a lengthy response posted on its website, Ripley's said that the row had in fact highlighted the dress's importance.
"Kim Kardashian's walk up the Metropolitan Museum's stairs at this year's Met Gala caused quite the stir, but one thing Ripley's Believe It or Not! can say with confidence is that it did not cause damage to Marilyn Monroe's famed Happy Birthday dress from 1962," the franchise wrote.
"Our mission is to both entertain and educate visitors and fans, and sparking conversations like the discourse around Marilyn Monroe's dress does just that.
"No matter which side of the debate you are on, the historical importance of the dress has not been negated, but rather highlighted.
"An entirely new group of young people has now been introduced to the legacy of Marilyn Monroe.
"Kim Kardashian wearing the Happy Birthday dress has been hotly contested, but the fact remains that she did not, in any way, damage the garment in the short amount of time it was worn at the Met Gala.
Ripley's said its vice president of publishing and licensing, Amanda Joiner, who had overseen the dress's transportation to and from the Met Gala had noted that "from the bottom of the Met steps, where Kim got into the dress, to the top where it was returned, the dress was in the same condition it started in".
The company said it had not paid Kardashian to wear the dress, nor had she paid them, but she had made a donation to two charities in the greater Orlando area on behalf of the company.
"Ripley's Believe It or Not! will continue to exhibit the dress — in as-is condition — at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Hollywood through Fall 2022," it said.
Natasha Poonawalla, the Indian businesswoman who made waves at the Met Gala — in pictures
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Natasha Poonawalla in a Sabyasachi sari paired with an ornate Schiaparelli Couture corset. EPA -
India businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla arrives at the In America: An Anthology of Fashion-themed Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, on Monday, May 2, 2022. Reuters -
Poonawalla is the executive director of the Serum Institute of India and chairperson of Villoo Poonawalla Foundation. AFP -
Poonawalla attends the 2022 Prince's Trust Gala at Cipriani 25 Broadway on April 28, 2022 in New York City. AFP -
Poonawalla married Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, in 2006. EPA -
From left: Dua Lipa, Marcus Piggott, Kristen McMenamy, Mert Alas and Poonawalla attend a cocktail reception ahead of The Fashion Awards 2021 at London's Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2021. Getty Images -
Editor-in-chief of British 'Vogue', Edward Enninful, and Poonawalla attend an exclusive party hosted by Frieze and Versace to celebrate London's creative community at Toklas on October 15, 2021. Getty Images for Frieze -
Poonawalla attends the British Vogue x Tiffany & Co. Fashion and Film party at The Londoner Hotel in London on September 20, 2021. Getty Images -
Poonawalla attends the LuisaViaRoma for Unicef event at La Certosa di San Giacomo on July 31, 2021 in Capri, Italy. Getty Images for Luisaviaroma -
Indian actress, model and singer Priyanka Chopra and Poonawalla on day 12 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on July 10, 2021. Getty Images -
![Poonawalla at the Exhibition Opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020. Getty Images For Christian Louboutin](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/JDPVJN3LENG6LEKJXV7TIO6OII.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa23845297bbdf21a160f7ae2e8b078055540616bd7c0cd085cdea7d36fb9bcb&width=400&height=225)
Poonawalla at the Exhibition Opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020. Getty Images For Christian Louboutin -
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Royal Founding Patron of the British Asian Trust, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meet American musician Katy Perry and Poonawalla as they arrive at a reception for supporters of the British Asian Trust in London on February 4, 2020. Getty Images -
Kristina O'Neill, Poonawalla, Imran Amed and Nikhil Mansata at an intimate presentation and cocktail event in celebration of BoF China Prize 2018 winner, Caroline Hu. This was held at Hotel Ritz in Paris. Getty Images for The Business of Fashion -
Evangelo Bousis, Natasha Poonawalla and Peter Dundas at the 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019 in New York City. AFP -
Poonawalla at Michael Muller's HEAVEN, presented by The Art of Elysium, on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles. AFP -
Serum Institute of India's Executive Director Adar Poonawalla and his wife Natasha launch the country's first nasal H1N1 vaccine, 'Nasovac', at a news conference in Mumbai on July 14, 2010. AFP
![Poonawalla at the Exhibition Opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020. Getty Images For Christian Louboutin](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/JDPVJN3LENG6LEKJXV7TIO6OII.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa23845297bbdf21a160f7ae2e8b078055540616bd7c0cd085cdea7d36fb9bcb&width=800&height=450)
