Known as Fashion's biggest event of the year, the Met Gala has had some of the most defining
moments in pop culture history.
From themes that faced backlash, outfits that stirred controversies, and, of course, the
celebrity drama that happened behind the scenes, this event has seen it all.
The Met Gala has had its fair share of scandals throughout the years.
In 2015, the "China: Through The Looking Glass" theme sparked a debate about cultural appropriation
and insensitivity, with some celebrities being criticized for perpetuating stereotypes.
Among the most condemned outfits was Sarah Jessica Parker's Philip Treacy headdress,
which was criticized for being a "dragon lady" stereotype that sexualizes and villainizes
Chinese women.
The 2018 Met Gala theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," was
met with similar backlash as it was felt by some that it trivialized sacred symbols.
In addition to controversial themes, some attendees have also made headlines for their
provocative or rule-breaking outfits.
For example, Madonna's sheer Givenchy ensemble at the 2016 "Manus x Machina" Met Gala event
stirred up a conversation about ageism and body shaming.
Madonna later addressed the negative comments about her outfit in an Instagram post.
She wrote, "My dress at the Met Ball was a political statement as well as a fashion statement.
The fact that people actually believe a woman is not allowed to express her sexuality and
be adventurous past a certain age is proof that we still live in an age-ist and sexist
society."
In 2017, Kendall Jenner was at the receiving end of a similar backlash for wearing a risqué
La Perla number that was deemed as "vulgar" by many.
One of the most daring and scandalous Met Gala outfits ever was worn by Cher in 1974,
when she made a head-turning entrance in a sheer, beaded Bob Mackie dress that famously
became known as the "naked dress."
At the Gala, the guest list alone has caused decades' worth of drama in who does and doesn't
make the cut.
In a 2019 Vogue video, Kim Kardashian admitted that she knew "no one really wanted" her there
when she was first invited in 2013.
Although it's always appeared to seem like a big deal to receive an invite to the Gala,
many attendees have complained about having a terrible time at the event.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, and Lena Dunham all expressed that they never
enjoyed themselves at the star-studded affair.
In 2013, Paltrow said, "I'm never going again.
It was un-fun.
It was boiling."
- baring that in mind, she did attend the event again in 2017 and 2019.
"It is such a jerk parade," Tina Fey admitted in 2015.
"Every jerk from every walk of life is there, wearing, like, some stupid thing.
. . I dragged my husband along with me, which I'm still in trouble for.
Clearly, I'll never go again."
In 2014, Solange Knowles, Beyonce, and her husband Jay-Z had no idea they were about
to make history.
At the afterparty that night, Solange was seen attacking Jay-Z in an elevator while
Beyonce stood by him.
The security footage from the elevator was later leaked and made headlines.
At the 2016 Gala, Nicki Minaj and Demi Lovato attended the event together with their designer
Jeremy Scott.
While the trio seemed perfectly fine in the photos, it turns out that it wasn't the case
behind the scenes.
Lovato later opened up about the night, sharing that she "had a terrible experience."
She continued, "It was very cliquey.
I remember being so uncomfortable that I wanted to drink."
The singer admitted that after she left the Gala, she immediately attended an AA meeting.
After being denied an invite for years, Kim Kardashian finally attended the Met Gala for
the very first time in 2013 while she was pregnant with her eldest daughter North West.
Unfortunately, her arrival wasn't as well received as she had hoped.
Many poked fun at Kardashian's floral gown and pointed out that it resembled a couch.
The "couch dress" meme was born and went viral.
In a 2019 Vogue Video, the star admitted that the meme brought her to tears.
She recalled, "I was crying the whole way home.
Because I just couldn't believe it."
Even Robin Williams got in on the fun, comparing her to Mrs. Doubtfire — and it just wasn't
the glamorous debut Kardashian had had in mind.
She's since said that she doesn't think the body-shaming she endured while pregnant "would
really fly today."
For her 2022 Gala look, Kim's look caused yet another stir.
The reality star claimed that she lost 16 pounds in three short weeks to squeeze into
Marilyn Monroe's iconic Jean Louis dress from 1962.
While Kardashian's stunt landed her on the list of most iconic outfits in the history
of the Met, it also resulted in a lot of backlash as she reportedly left the historic dress
irreversibly damaged.
Dakota Johnson, Bella Hadid, Rami Malek, and a few more celebs got themselves in some serious
trouble at the Gala after they were caught sneaking off to the bathroom to grab a smoke.
Why?
Simply because smoking has been banned at the event.
That, of course, didn't stop a handful of celebs from sneaking off to grab a smoke.
After the guests were caught puffing away in the bathrooms, the donors and board members
of the Met Gala were outraged.
The museum then responded with a statement saying that the violation happened "by a small
number of guests" and that the museum will "take steps to ensure this does not happen
again."
This year’s Met Gala stirred some controversy before it even happened.
It all started when the theme, which was "in honor of Karl," aimed to highlight the late
designer Karl Lagerfeld's work.
Unfortunately, the theme was met with intense backlash, with some describing Karl as "someone
who reveled in his own public disdain for marginalized people."
Among the problematic comments Lagerfeld has made in the past are his stance against plus-size
models and Syrian immigrants and his statement about being "fed up" with the #MeToo movement.
As a result of some of his past statements, there were many that weren't too thrilled
about the Met Gala being held in his honor.
That being said, despite the backlash surrounding the theme, they followed through with it.
Celebrities paid tribute to the late designer in numerous ways.
Some wore vintage designs from the man himself, while others wore creations that were inspired
by his aesthetic, as rival fashion houses put their own spin on some of his most famous
works.
It was a red carpet filled with monochromatic looks – black and white ruled – there
were also lots of references to the iconic Chanel Camellia flower, plenty of pearls,
a touch of tweed, and thousands upon thousands of crystal embellishments.
Rihanna arrived fashionably late with A$AP Rocky by her side.
Rihanna has always been one of the best dressed at the Met, and this year she didn't disappoint.
The singer chose a dramatic white haute couture ball gown from Valentino, complete with a
floral headpiece of thirty camellias composed of five-hundred petals.
"It's Valentino, baby," she told reporters as she glided onto the carpet.
Nicole Kidman made sure to tell a story with her outfit this year.
She arrived in the Chanel couture gown that she had first worn in 2004 when she starred
in that iconic Chanel No. 5 fragrance advert directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Anne Hathaway's Versace ensemble paid tribute to another fashion house, Chanel.
She wore a floor-length monochrome, tweed grown, complete with Versace safety pins holding
it all together.
It was the perfect mishmash of Versace and Chanel, and let's face it, she looked flawless.
Pop Queen Dua Lipa took the cake with the most jaw-dropping accessory to her outfit.
She graced the carpet in a Chanel Bride ball gown from the '90s.
Her jewelry, however, stole the show.
Around Dua's neck hung a never-before-seen Tiffany white diamond necklace.
And get this; the diamond was over one-hundred carats!
Although the Met Gala's decision to honor the late Lagerfeld didn't sit well with a
lot of people, a lot of celebs attended anyway.
Karl famously hated the color pink, and several guests chose to subtly shade the designer
through their outfits.
Viola Davis was impossible to miss on the carpet, dressed in a hot-pink Valentino dress.
Grace Elizabeth, Cardi B and Quannah Chasinghorse were also some of the guests who arrived at
the event in pink ensembles.
At his first Met Gala appearance, Pedro Pascalwas a standout on the carpet.
Lagerfeld once stated that he didn't approve of socks that weren't knee-length.
He also expressed, "I hate nothing more than when men cross their legs, and you see hairy
legs, socks, and pants — the worst.
The worst!"
So what did Pascal do?
He wore socks that didn't go up to the knee and showed off his legs, which, yes, did indeed
have hair on them.
And in the vast majority of shots taken on the carpet, the actor posed with his middle
fingers up.
There’s no doubt that the Met Gala is the perfect place for designers and celebrities
to push all sorts of boundaries.
Whether it’s a political statement or questioning societal norms, fashion has always been a
means of expression.
Naturally, with so many celebs gathering together for such a grand event, there’s bound to
be a few ruffled feathers every now and again.