Stars Who Refuse To Go To The Met Gala Ever Again
The Met Gala is one of the biggest, most exclusive events in the world. A fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, this benefit brings together some of the world's wealthiest and most famous people, and fashion fans across the globe wait to see what their favorite designers have created for guests to wear.
Stars including Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, Blake Lively, and Rihanna always wow the world with their attire, and attend the event year after year, making it a shock when they're not there. Other celebrity attendees, for various reasons, have been barred from returning. Then there are stars who have boycotted the event indefinitely, never wanting to return to the infamously exclusive gathering.
Despite the glitz and glamor of the event, and the exclusivity of the guest list (Adele's never gone, nor have either of Brad Pitt's ex-wives), some just don't enjoy their time there. Here are the stars who refuse to return to the Met Gala.
Demi Lovato left the event early
Singer and former Disney star Demi Lovato only attended the Met Gala once, but according to them, once was more than enough. In a candid interview with Billboard, Lovato detailed their time at the fancy fundraiser, noting they "had a terrible experience."
Lovato has openly discussed their journey with sobriety and struggles with addiction for years. The year they attended, Lovato was living a sober lifestyle, and disclosed, "I remember being so uncomfortable that I wanted to drink." Lovato left the event and attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting instead.
In addition to the discomfort, Lovato was particularly disenchanted by a certain guest. "This one celebrity was a complete b**** and was miserable to be around," they said. The celebrity in question? Reportedly, it was Nicki Minaj, who, ironically, didn't attend 2021's event, as she didn't want to travel because of her young child (per her tweet).
Minaj also noted she hadn't been vaccinated against COVID-19, a requirement to attend the event: "if I get vaccinated it won't be for the Met," she wrote, in part. Whether or not Minaj will attend the event in the future is yet to be seen, but we don't think we'll see Lovato on the steps again.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Zayn Malik would rather stay home
Another singer to only attend the event once, former One Direction member Zayn Malik didn't find the Met Gala quite as entrancing as many celebrities seem to. Malik walked the red carpet with his then-girlfriend, supermodel Gigi Hadid (who is a staple at the event from year to year), in 2016. The theme was "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology." Hadid wore custom Tommy Hilfiger, per Vogue, and Malik was dressed as his favorite "Mortal Kombat" character.
Despite nailing the theme, Malik didn't enjoy his time at the Met. As he told GQ, Malik went upon the suggestion of his stylist. He described the event as "self-indulgent" and said, "Now, it's not something I would go to. I'd rather be sitting at my house, doing something productive, than dressing up in really expensive clothes and being photographed on a red carpet."
While Malik clearly doesn't want to go, fans also believe he's been banned from the event, as reported by Cosmopolitan. Whether that's true is uncertain, and Anna Wintour usually remains tight-lipped about those issues (aside from disclosing that she Donald Trump is banned from attending the Met Gala again). Either way, he's unlikely to return.
Tina Fey doesn't think she'll be invited again
Comedian Tina Fey is best known for her work on "Saturday Night Live," writing "Mean Girls," and creating and starring in "30 Rock." Due to her star power, she garnered an invitation to the exclusive Met Gala. However, Fey shared her unfiltered opinions of the event with David Letterman, and thinks she probably won't receive another invitation after airing her grievances.
In the interview, Fey noted she's only attended the Gala once, but called it a "jerk parade," and assured Letterman he hasn't missed anything by having never attended. "Every jerk from every walk of life is there wearing, like, some stupid thing," she added. Her husband wasn't a fan, either, as she admitted she's "still in trouble" for taking him as her date. She continued regaling Letterman with stories from the event, including how she ended up chilling with Barbara Walters.
Fey attended in 2010, and the theme was "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity." She interpreted the theme by wearing a strapless jumpsuit and heels, a much more subtle outfit than many of the looks seen on the steps in more recent years.
Gwyneth Paltrow refused to return...then went again
Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow carved some time out of her busy Goop schedule to attend the fundraiser in 2013, but the lifestyle guru later declared, "It was so un-fun." She told USA Today, "I'm never going again," after arriving in Valentino, and not walking the red carpet alongside her then-husband Chris Martin.
Either Paltrow was lying to USA Today, or her vagina candles erased her memory, because the actor failed to keep her promise of never going again, and attended a second and third time in 2017 and 2019, per People. Perhaps, though, Paltrow just had a change of heart.
No matter the reason she decided to rejoin the event, in 2019, Paltrow walked the famous red carpet, once again sans husband, wearing a yellow Chloé gown, paying homage to the 1967 hit "Valley of the Dolls." Her 2017 pick was a pale pink Calvin Klein number. Paltrow has not returned since 2019. Maybe this time she really means she's never going again.
Indya Moore was glad to go, but probably won't again
Model, actor, and activist Indya Moore was invited to the Met Gala for the first time in 2021. They wore Yves Saint Laurent and attended as a guest of the fashion house's creative director Anthony Vaccarello. Many stars attend with major labels, as tickets are incredibly expensive. Per The New York Times, an individual ticket costs $35,000, and tables cost anywhere from $200,000 to $300,000.
Moore noted in an Instagram post their gratitude for the invitation, but stated it'll likely be the last time they attend the event. "I am going to think long and hard about why I came and if it is truly in alignment with what I want to accomplish in this life, the stories I want to tell and the messages I want to share," Moore wrote, in part, for the photo's caption.
Moore, who's recognized for their activism, then asked in their Instagram post: "can't we be substantially generous in ways that alleviate suffering and poverty?" They were referring to the millions raised each year for The Costume Institute. They ended the post by calling for a change of heart.
Amy Schumer was disappointed in the event
Comedian Amy Schumer shared her first Met Gala experience, which was short-lived, with Howard Stern in 2016. "I left earlier than I should have been allowed," Schumer said, adding that she met Beyoncé — the singer asked Schumer if it was her first time at the event, and Schumer said it would be her last.
Although "it felt like a punishment" to Schumer, she, like Paltrow, returned to the Met after blasting it. She discussed her second time there on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in 2017, joking that she "had to go home early and black out on my own," but she made no mention of her prior comments about the Gala.
Schumer's next appearance at the Met was in 2019, but not as a guest. The comedian stopped for a quick photo outside the event just before giving birth to her son, per E! News. Schumer captioned the photo "Met look this year" in a since-deleted Instagram post, and hasn't crashed the fundraiser since.