The Met Gala has returned and this year, celebrities were asked to dress “in honour of Karl” – ie, Karl Lagerfeld, the fashion designer and former Chanel creative director, who died in 2019.
Anna Wintour, who oversees the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, welcomed Roger Federer, Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, and Dua Lipa as her co-chairs. The benefit accompanies the Met’s Costume Institute’s fashion exhibit “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, which opens to the public on 5 May.
While the Met Gala guest list is typically the subject of much secrecy – and a healthy dose of speculation – at least three celebrities confirmed they would not be in attendance this year. Rumours swirled around another few.
Here is a breakdown of some of the notable absences from the 2023 Met Gala red carpet:
Blake Lively
Much to her fan’s chagrin, Blake Lively confirmed ahead of the gala that she would not attend this year’s event. Lively is typically one of the event’s best-dressed guests, and she even co-chaired it last year.
Asked by reporters whether people would spot her on tonight’s red carpet, Lively replied: “You will not. But I will be watching.”
As the event got underway, Lively shared a photo of herself pumping breast milk with the capture: “First Monday in May.”
The post from Lively, who recently welcomed her fourth child with husband Ryan Reynolds, comes after the Deadpool star revealed the reason that the couple will not be attending the 2023 Met Gala is only partly due to the expansion of their family.
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend were absent at this year’s Met Gala, though it didn’t come as too much of a surprise as they haven’t attended for several past years.
While the model and mother of three did not appear to address her lack of attendance on social media, she was apparently keeping track of the red carpet.
In an Instagram Story, Teigen shared a photo of model Anok Yai on the red carpet with the caption: “Phewww [fire emoji].”
Teigen did hit the red carpet two days earlier at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC.
Law Roach
The celebrity stylist, who announced his retirement in March, said in an interview with The Cut that his decision to step away from the industry extends to the Met Gala.
“I feel so free,” Roach told the magazine. “I feel a freedom that I don’t remember ever feeling. And no matter what, if I come back, which I don’t have plans on coming back —”
Lindsay Peoples, The Cut’s editor-in-chief, interjected to ask: “So no Met Gala?”
“No Met Gala,” Roach confirmed.
Rihanna
The Fenty Beauty arrived fashionably late at the Met Gala, after much speculation over whether she would walk the red carpet at all.
Rihanna finally posed for pictures with boyfriend A$AP Rocky on the Met Gala red carpet dressed in a white floral Valentino outfit that covered her entire face. She accessorised the look with a pair of white cat-eye sunglasses, which were decorated with a pair of fake eyelashes, and a bold red lip.
Meanwhile, A$AP Rocky could be seen wearing a black suit jacket with a white button-down shirt, along with a red plaid kilt over a pair of baggy jeans.
Their appearance came just moments after the Vogue red carpet livestream came to an abrupt end, as fans waited for their delayed arrival.
Jonathan Majors
The actor was arrested in March in New York, on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment, The Associated Press reported at the time. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The following month, Deadline reported that Majors and the fashion house Valentino had “‘mutually agreed’ that the actor would not be attending this year’s Met Gala as one of its guests”.
Katy Perry
Perry, a Met Gala veteran who famously attended the 2019 after-party dressed as a burger, didn’t appear at this year’s event.
According to Just Jared, she wasn’t be able to make it because of a live taping of American Idol – on which she is a judge – on Monday evening.
However, Perry was spotted in New York City as celebrities started making their way towards the Big Apple ahead of the gala, as noted by Page Six. Perry is also scheduled to perform at King Charles’s coronation on 7 May, an event for which American Idol – which is also airing that day – would presumably make contingency plans.
Perry remained vague when ET quizzed her about both events.
“You'll just have to tune in and wait and see. The hologram is finally real!” she said of American Idol.
As for the Met Gala, she joked: “I'm sending Zooey Deschanel in my place. Hi, Zoe. I love you!”
Harry Styles
Styles made his most recent appearance – which was also his first – at the Met Gala in 2019.
The celebrity updates account DeuxMoi suggested that Styles would not attend this year’s event either, as he appears not to be in the US at the moment.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga was noticeably absent from this year’s Met Gala. However, there are plenty of good reasons why the singer skipped the event.
The “Born This Way” singer is currently juggling a number of projects, including filming for the upcoming movie musical sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux.
Gaga also recently promoted a new product launch for her beauty line, Haus Labs, on Instagram.
Plus, the AStar Is Born actor told Wallpaper magazine in March 2023 that she’s interested in living “more of a life of solitude”.
“It’s really nice to just have time to be alone, and be expansive, and know that you’re enough,” she said. “I wish I could tell my younger self that. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time alone writing music. But the more successful I became, the more I felt like I needed other people to tell me I was great.”
Lady Gaga’s last appearance at the Met Gala was in 2019, where she had four outfit changes on the red carpet in line with the theme, “Camp: Notes on Fashion”.
Zendaya
Despite attending five Met Galas over the years, all in jaw-dropping looks styled by Law Roach, the Euphoria star never addressed why she didn’t attend this year.
Her last appearance at the event was in 2019 when the theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion.” She wore a a stunning icy blue look by Tommy Hilfiger.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber was a no-show at this year’s Met Gala, despite attending previous red carpets with her husband Justin Bieber. However, the model’s decision to not attend the annual fashion event appeared to be a work-related one.
Weeks before the 2023 Met Gala, Bieber allegedly broke the news that she won’t be attending the extravaganza in an Instagram group chat.
In a screenshot of the rumoured conversation, which circulated on social media, Bieber allegedly wrote: “I’m not going to the Met this year gearing up for our next Rhode launch so decided to sit this one out but will be back next year.”
