Fashion’s biggest night arrived, bringing together Hollywood’s A-List for yet another Met Gala — though several stars were notably absent.
The 2025 Met Ball was held on Monday, May 5, at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in honor of the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” Costume Institute exhibit. The fashion fundraiser was cochaired by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, ASAP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, alongside honorary cohost LeBron James.
While Wintour, Domingo, Hamilton, Rocky and Williams all slayed on the blue carpet on Monday, James was absent.
“Unfortunately, because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season, I won’t be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight,” James wrote via X earlier on Monday, noting his wife, Savannah James, would show up in his place.
Monday’s benefit was slated to be the Los Angeles Lakers star’s Met Gala debut, and it still is for Savannah.
LeBron was hardly the only absence on Met Monday. See which other stars missed the occasion:
Naomi Campbell
The iconic supermodel secured an invitation to the exhibit celebrating Black dandyism, though “regretfully” couldn’t make it in person.
“I was so honored to be invited to tonight’s big event, but regretfully cannot make it,” Campbell wrote in a statement shared via Instagram on Monday. “Even though I’m not there in person, I’ll be with you all in spirit, carried by the legacy of my beloved friend, the late Andre Leon Talley. His commanding presence, vision and belief that fashion is art helped shape what the Met Gala is presenting tonight.”
She added, “I can’t wait to see how everyone mixes African and European style traditions on those famous steps tonight! The creativity will be amazing.”
Campbell further offered her congratulations to Wintour, the fashion designers, the “dedicated” event team and the rest of the attendees, all while her absence was felt.
“MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!! Still sad you decided not to come 💔,” Jodie Turner-Smith wrote in the Instagram comments.
Sarah Jessica Parker
While the …And Just Like That star is a frequent Met staple, she was a no-show on Monday.
“I have to work,” Parker told Entertainment Tonight several days earlier. “There’s going to be so much to see, and I look forward to seeing what everybody does, and how they interpret the theme and the homework they did for the assignment.”
LeBron James
In his social media statement, LeBron couldn’t wait to see his wife shine on the red carpet.
“My beautiful, powerful queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done,” he gushed via X.
Taylor Swift
In the midst of her and boyfriend Travis Kelce’s hiatus from the spotlight, Swift opted not to make her seventh Met appearance. Kelce’s mom, Donna, however, did “like” a fan account’s coverage of her 2014 outing at the museum.
Blake Lively
Us Weekly confirmed ahead of time that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, would not return to the Met steps three years after cohosting together.
Jennifer Lopez
Another Met staple, Lopez did not make an appearance on Monday.
Beyonce
Beyoncé just completed three Cowboy Carter Tour concerts in Los Angeles, and did not jet across the country for the Met Ball.
Timothee Chalamet
Chalamet had a night in on Monday, opting to watch the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics basketball game with friends.
“S***ting myself, this game is intense,” he wrote via Instagram Stories around the same time his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, walked the red carpet solo.
Katy Perry
She may have just fulfilled long-held dreams of going to space last month, but Perry didn’t follow up with another appearance at the Met.
Emily Ratajkowski
After attending the Met Gala nine times, the model was absent on Monday.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X, known for back-to-back standout looks during the last two Met Balls, wasn’t featured on the red carpet this time around.
Selena Gomez
Gomez last attended the Met Gala in 2018 and didn’t make her sixth appearance this year.
Ariana Grande
While Grande was a presumed no-show on Monday, her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo stepped out in style.
Bella Hadid
Bella last attended the Met Ball in 2022, missing the occasion for the third year in a row. Her sister Gigi, however, was a golden goddess in a Miu Miu gown.
Kris Jenner
While Jenner usually attends the Met Gala (and watches her daughters’ own entrances from the top of the stairs), she was nowhere to be seen on Monday. Her children Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie all attended and walked the carpet separately.
“Happy Met Monday,” Kris wrote via Instagram several hours earlier, alongside footage of Kendall and Kylie discussing last year’s event on Hulu’s The Kardashians.
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