From Congolese sapeurs to zoot-suit silhouettes, this year’s Met Gala invites bold interpretations of menswear rooted in Black fashion history. But while guests prepare to tailor their looks to the theme, a few notable names are sitting this one out—and not all by choice.
As anticipation builds for fashion’s biggest night, not everyone is preparing for the red carpet. This year, a handful of well-known figures are confirmed to be skipping the Met Gala, including one who was publicly named as no longer welcome. Others have shared in the past why they won’t return, citing their experiences.
These absences span years of history and controversy, involving figures who once stood center stage at the gala. Some never returned after a single appearance, others were quietly or openly removed from future guest lists. Each story is different, but all point to why these six celebrities won’t be attending the 2025 Met Gala.
Donald Trump – Publicly Excluded Since 2017
President Donald Trump has been associated with the Met Gala since the mid-1980s, when he began attending with his then-wife, Ivana Trump. Over the years, he returned with different guests, including Andrea Murray in 1998 and Melania and Ivanka Trump in 2004.
His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also appeared at the event during that period, joining the family on the red carpet. In October 2017, Anna Wintour appeared on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and participated in a segment called “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts.”
Asked to identify one person she would never invite back to the Met Gala, Wintour answered, “Donald Trump,” prompting applause from the audience. The comment made clear that he was no longer welcome at the event.
While Trump’s exclusion was made explicit in a single televised moment, others distanced themselves from the event after experiences they’ve since described in detail.
Demi Lovato – Left the Gala for an AA Meeting
Demi Lovato attended the Met Gala in 2016 but did not stay long. In a 2018 interview with Billboard, she described the evening as one of the most uncomfortable experiences of her life.
“I had a terrible experience,” she said. She recalled feeling isolated and uncomfortable at the event, describing one unnamed celebrity as being particularly unfriendly. The atmosphere, she said, was overly cliquish and tense, to the point that she felt triggered to drink.
She left the gala early and headed straight to a 10 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, still wearing millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds from the evening. Lovato explained that she felt more connected to the people in that meeting, many of whom were homeless, than those at the gala.
She said the event had felt fake, using a censored phrase to describe her impression of the fashion industry’s values. At that time, Lovato was distancing herself from the kind of glamour associated with red carpet culture.
She stated that glamor wasn’t part of her brand, and that even on tour, she preferred to wear what made her feel like herself. For her, it was less about presentation and more about authenticity. Six years earlier, another first-time guest had attended what would turn out to be their only Met Gala appearance.
Tina Fey – Attended Once and Had Enough
Tina Fey attended the Met Gala in 2010, the year the theme was “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.” Five years later, during an interview on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” she shared her thoughts on the experience and made it clear she would not be going back.
She referred to the event as “such a jerk parade,” saying it was filled with “every jerk from every walk of life,” all wearing “some stupid thing.” She had even dragged her husband along and was “still in trouble” for it.
Describing the crowd, she added, “If you had a million arms, all the people you would want to punch are there.” She ended her story with a firm conclusion, “Clearly I will never go again.”
A few years after Fey’s experience, a fashion commentator found himself no longer welcome at the Met Gala following a comment that didn’t sit well with one of the event’s organizers.
Tim Gunn – Disinvited After One Public Remark
Tim Gunn never returned to the Met Gala after a comment he made during an interview led to his removal from the guest list. In a later appearance on “The Meredith Vieira Show,” he was asked directly if the rumor was true, to which he responded, “It is very true.”
He explained that the fallout stemmed from an interview in which he was asked to name the most unforgettable thing he had seen in fashion. He answered, “It’s easy. It was watching Anna Wintour being carried down five flights of stairs by two bodyguards—two big, hulking men—from a fashion show.”
Gunn said that after he shared the story, “all hell broke loose.” He described the response as “insane” and said the situation resulted in what he called an “open war.” Since that incident, Gunn has not received another invitation to the event.
In the same year Gunn was disinvited, another celebrity made his first appearance at the gala, and later said it would be his last.
Zayn Malik – Went Once, Never Looked Back
“Pillow Talk” singer Zayn Malik made his first and only appearance at the Met Gala in 2016. Two years later, in an interview with GQ, he explained that attending had never really been his idea. He went dressed as Jax from “Mortal Kombat,” saying it was meant as a playful choice rather than a serious fashion statement.
The decision to attend came under the guidance of his then-stylist, who believed it would be good for his public image. “No matter how strong you are mentally, you can always be swayed to do certain things,” Malik admitted. The Met Gala wasn’t something he had grown up knowing about or identified with in any real way.
Looking back, he said he would rather spend his time being productive at home than getting dressed up and photographed on a red carpet. The performative nature of the event, he added, simply wasn’t for him. Three years earlier, another celebrity walked the Met Gala carpet with high expectations, only to leave with the decision never to return.
Gwyneth Paltrow – Attended in 2013, Then Walked Away
Gwyneth Paltrow attended the Met Gala in 2013, when the theme was “Punk: Chaos to Couture.” Though she appeared in a hot pink Valentino Haute Couture gown, she later revealed she found the event disappointing and overwhelming.
In an interview with USA Today shortly after, she said she didn’t plan to return. “It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all,” Paltrow stated.
During a later radio appearance with Kyle and Jackie O, she elaborated on her experience, noting that she had been drinking during the conversation. Paltrow described the evening as uncomfortably hot and crowded, and said that everyone was pushing.
“It sucked,” she told the hosts. She also remarked that the punk theme felt ill-suited to the age of many attendees, adding, “I think we’re all a bit old to dress up punk.” She mentioned that Kanye West, who performed that evening, appeared frustrated and threw his microphone during the show.
One part of the evening she did enjoy was meeting Korean rapper Psy, whom she and then-husband Chris Martin approached to ask for a photo on behalf of their son. Psy initially didn’t recognize Martin but became enthusiastic after realizing who he was.
With these six names missing from this year’s guest list, their past experiences offer a reminder that not every celebrity embraces the spectacle, or is invited to return.
The 2025 Met Gala: Theme, Code, and What to Expect
The 2025 Met Gala will take place on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The event serves as a fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute and is known for attracting some of the biggest names in entertainment, fashion, sports, and politics.
This year’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” drawn from the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition of the same name. The exhibit is inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” and will explore the tradition and influence of Black dandyism.
Guest curated by Miller and Andrew Bolton, the exhibition is organized into 12 sections, each representing a characteristic central to dandy style: Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism.
The dress code for the evening is “Tailored for You,” which encourages guests to personalize menswear-inspired looks. Outlets like Vogue have predicted that attendees may reinterpret styles such as 1940s zoot suits and the vibrant, structured fashion of Congolese sapeurs.
Accessories like hats, brooches, canes, and pocket squares are expected to make a strong showing. The 2025 gala will be co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour.
LeBron James serves as honorary chair. In addition, the host committee includes Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens, Doechii, Regina King, Spike Lee, Angel Reese, and Usher.
