'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAIxAAAQMDAgcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAFEQZBBxIVISIjMf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAHxEAAQQABwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQGESFBUfDx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDIMafuo0vKjTVQA/JwGsc5GMlSgdhsO1SOqcRGvW1c1pbR4pCVoAAHzFKUO69K1x7sqHFhqjKDoRlwfV//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Every year, the Met Gala rolls around like fashion’s version of the Super Bowl, glamorous, theatrical, and almost comically exclusive. It’s a night where celebrities climb the Met steps in designer gowns that cost more than most people’s cars, all for a fundraiser that supports the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. But while we all tune in for the outfits, there’s a lot more going on behind those velvet ropes.
Sure, the themes are announced months in advance, and Instagram floods with red carpet pictures the moment the first stiletto hits the carpet. But the real juice? It’s often tucked behind the scenes, hidden dramas, oddball rules, and eyebrow-raising moments that never make it to the official livestream.
So if you thought you knew everything about the Met Gala, think again. Here are ten lesser-known facts and stories showing how wild and weird this event can be.
The Met Gala: Secrets, Scandals, and Seriously Strange Moments
For an invite-only event hosted by Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, you’d expect a tight ship. And it is until it isn’t. Celebrities behave, well, like celebrities. While you’d assume nothing shocks Anna, it turns out that she can even be moved enough to break her own rules. (More on that in a bit.)
From ancient Egyptian relics being found thanks to a red carpet photo, to full-blown guest bans and red carpet crashers, what happens at the Met doesn’t always stay at the Met. Here’s a look at some of the most surprising, amusing, and straight-up bizarre moments you probably didn’t know about the Met Gala.
Anna Wintour Left Her Post for Lady Gaga
In 2019, Lady Gaga arrived at the Met Gala with a 16-minute performance and four outfit reveals. It was such a spectacle that Anna Wintour, who usually stays inside to greet guests, reportedly stepped outside just to watch Gaga make her entrance. That’s not normal. Anna never leaves her spot. But then again, Gaga isn’t your average guest.
Kim Kardashian Helped Solve an Art Mystery
A photo of Kim Kardashian at the 2018 Met Gala inadvertently helped Egyptian authorities locate a stolen sarcophagus. The artifact, looted during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, was spotted in the background of her red carpet photo, leading to its eventual return to Cairo. Fashion meets forensic archaeology.
Gaga Doesn’t Attend, but Still Goes Viral
Even when Lady Gaga skips the Met Gala, fans bring her spirit along. One thread on X shows how Gaga could have rocked every Met theme since 2011 with existing outfits she’s already worn. From “Camp” to “Karl Lagerfeld,” she’s unofficially always on-theme. Honestly, who needs an invite?
Lizzo Was Allegedly Banned
According to online chatter, Lizzo has been blacklisted from future Met Galas for allegedly wearing an “off-theme, low-budget costume.” While it’s not confirmed officially, the rumor spread fast, and let’s just say, the internet had thoughts about the Met playing fashion police a little too hard.
The Met Said No to a Galliano-Themed Gala
Imagine a Met Gala dedicated to John Galliano’s theatrical fashion legacy. It almost happened. According to reports, even Anna Wintour and curator Andrew Bolton wanted it, but the museum’s higher-ups said no, fearing public backlash due to Galliano’s past controversies. A fashion fantasy that never came to be.
Emergency Meetings Are a Thing
Amid a scandal involving Elijah Perez and Nicole Maraj, the Met Gala’s Director reportedly called an “emergency meeting” just days before the event. No official reason was given, but speculation ran wild. Would names be dropped from the guest list? Would invites be revoked? No one knows, but the drama was peak Met.
Kendall Jenner Was Shamed for Her Dress
In 2017, Kendall Jenner walked the red carpet in a daring sheer La Perla gown. The internet erupted not in applause but in judgment. She later spoke out about the backlash, saying the look was “pretty sexual” but ultimately, “cool.” A reminder that even fashion-forward risk-takers aren’t immune to public shaming.
A Red Carpet Streaker Tried His Luck
The Met Gala red carpet is highly guarded, but in 2014, prankster Vitalii Sediuk managed to cause chaos by attempting to crash the event in a mankini. Security tackled him before he could get too far, but the moment went down as one of the most bizarre red carpet intrusions in Met history.
Demi Lovato Walked Out Early
Demi Lovato didn’t stick around long when she attended in 2016. She later shared that another celebrity at her table was so miserable to be around that she left early and went straight to an AA meeting. It’s not always glam and giggles behind those diamond-studded doors.
Only Rihanna Can Be Late
When asked who can show up late to the Met Gala without raising eyebrows, Anna Wintour gave a simple answer: “Rihanna.” That’s it. No other name. Just Rihanna. If anyone else tries to show up fashionably late, it’s a scandal. When Rihanna does it, it’s tradition.
The Met Gala may be about haute couture and high-profile selfies, but these lesser-known stories prove it’s also a theater of unintentional comedy, art-world politics, and full-blown celebrity drama. Beneath the surface of every silk train and rhinestone boot, there’s always a human moment waiting to slip through the seams.
So the next time you scroll through the red carpet looks, remember: the real action is often what doesn’t get photographed.
Reply
