Inside Met Gala’s full glitz and glam – but some stars broke major red carpet rule

Despite the strict phone ban, Rapper Megan Thee Stallion risked upsetting Met Gala host Anna Wintour by providing fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the lavish event.

The Met Gala returned for another year as A-list stars descended on New York to attend Anna Wintour’s lavish event. They flocked to the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art for the bash held by the Vogue editor-in-chief.

Held on the first Monday of May each year, the annual haute couture fundraising festival sees attempt at following the theme (or failing miserably). This year’s Met Gala had the theme Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, and the accompanying dress code is Tailored for You.

The event was co-chaired by Anna, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A $AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, and honorary chair LeBron James.

Halle Bailey and Sydney Sweeney broke the no phone rule(Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/)

The exclusive guest list includes 450 names from various industries, including technology, sports, sports, entertainment, and beyond. However, getting an invitation is only the start because attendees must purchase a ticket, which cost $75, 000 last year.

The Met Gala’s strict policy requires that attendees use their phones only while inside the venue and that they are not permitted to post photos on social media during the event.

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Megan Thee Stallion
Megan showed off the food inside the event(Image: Instagram)

Yet, Megan Thee Stallion defied the request as she gave fans a very sneaky look inside the four walls of the event. The rapper posted her own vlog of the Met Gala as she tucked into various canapés with WNBA star Angel Reese and rapper Doechii.

Before Megan took her fans inside the opulent venue, the trio gave their frank evaluations of the food. She met other stars while visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art along with Tracee Ellis Ross.

 Rihanna arrives for the 2025 Met Gala
Rhianna revealed her pregnancy at the event(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Megan acknowledged that she wasn’t supposed to be on her phone, but she was already aware of Anna’s guidelines. The music producer’s ex-girlfriend found the tape that had “snuck” her camera inside and removed.

Madonna smoked a cigar on the red carpet
Madonna chewed on a cigar on the red carpet(Image: FilmMagic)

Phones and selfies have been banned from the exclusive event since 2015, but Megan isn’t the only one to have ever broken the rules. Kylie Jenner famously shared snaps from the bash in the past.

Barry Keoghan
Barry Keoghan was at the event on Monday night(Image: Variety via Getty Images)

However, Megan’s fans continued to warn her as one phrased: “GIRL now be careful. Thank you for the inside information, but the pictures in the bathrooms show smoking.

Halle Berry
Halle Berry wore a daring cut out gown(Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/)

Another phrase was added, “Girl, they’re going to get you.” Someone else said, “She done snuck that phone in there Meg, you gone get us in trouble but thanks.” Fourth author remarked, “Here, Anna, make you delete this.” Another person thanked you for this forbidden footage, “Sis.”

Sabrina Carpenter was having the time of her life
Sabrina Carpenter was having the time of her life(Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The)

Megan bumped into Cynthia Erivo, the star of Wicked, while filming the event. Then she made her way over to Angela Bassett, who she described as stunning, and showed off Lupita Nyong’o’s “stunning” rhinestone eyebrows, which she called beautiful.

Kim Kardashian hit underneath a large hat
Kim Kardashian hit underneath a large hat(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Serena Williams and Megan snuck their phone in before Megan admitted to doing it.

Zendaya looked sleek and stylish in all white
Zendaya looked sleek and stylish in all white(Image: PA)

The Vogue boss dispelled the ingrained myth that she must approve of all outfits that celebrities wear to the Met Gala before the event in its entirety.

Shakira made an entrance in a pink ball gown
Shakira made an entrance in a pink ball gown(Image: Getty Images)

She revealed that many A-list guests ask for advice freely and without having to give them her official approval.

Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson was among those securing an exclusive invite(Image: Getty Images)

Michael Strahan, the host of Good Morning America, questioned Anna about whether she had to approve all the outfits seen on the red carpet, and she responded, “No.”

Kylie Jenner showed off her figure in a glitzy bustier
Kylie Jenner showed off her figure in a glitzy bustier(Image: Getty Images)

Anna continued, “We try to help some of them as much as we can, because many call and ask our advice. Some people have no idea.

Demi Moore opted for an unsusual structured piece
Demi Moore opted for an unsusual structured piece(Image: PA)

Co-chair Pharrell Williams made a point about having a room full of successful Black people from all walks of life before the event.

Sydney Sweeney glittered in her black gown
Sydney Sweeney glittered in her black gown(Image: FilmMagic)

He told Vogue: “It’s so important to me to have successful Black and brown people of every stripe in the room: not just athletes and actors and actresses, entertainers, but also authors, architects, folks from the fintech world.

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Gigi Hadid stood out in her gold dress
Gigi Hadid stood out in her gold dress(Image: Penske Media via Getty Images)

We must make an investment in one another. It’s going to take everyone to unite the forces of Black and Brown genius into a single, effective force.

READ MORE: ‘Comfortable’ linen trousers from GAP are a must-have for easy, breezy summer style

Boden shoppers love ‘gorgeous’ and ‘flattering’ sale dress you can ‘wear for years’

The dress received praise from customers for its “perfect fit,” flattering cut, and “beautiful” color.

Boden shoppers love the ‘flatteirng’ sale dress(Image: Boden)

A “gorgeous” and “flattering” tea dress that customers love has been discounted by Boden. From just £136, you can purchase the Bright Blue Cynthia Button Tea Dress. The price of the dress is also lower than the rich emerald color, but only the blue polka dot style is offered.

The dress is typically available in sizes four to twenty, but some sizes have already sold out. It can be purchased in petite or regular sizes. The dress can be worn “for years,” according to Boden, and it is simple to wear on numerous occasions.

This tea dress is oh-so-wearable for many occasions, not just those that involve scones, according to the product description. The dress has a regular shape that is meant to fit mid-calf. It has a self-tie waist back, button-fastening front, and a lined bodice.

Debenhams sells a similar Roman Polka Dot Ruched Sleeve Midi Dress for £55. The polka dot style is well-liked by customers. Additionally, New Look offers an Apricot Blue Polka Dot Midi Dress for £49 while Finery London offers a Talise Blue Polka Dot Print Midi Dress for £44.50.

Shoppers have rated Boden’s Cynthia Button Tea Dress for its “flattering” fit, with many praising the style. What a gorgeous dress, one customer said. The color is stunning. It is extremely flattering and classic. Although it costs a little bit more, I believe I’ll keep using it for years.

Model wears Boden's Cynthia Button Tea Dress with brown accessories
Boden’s Cynthia Button Tea Dress(Image: Boden)

“Lovely dress,” another customer said. Fits perfectly, and the color is stunning in blue. A third responded, “Love the dress, but the fabric made it a little more formal than I wanted.” Ordering was simple, products were quick to ship, and returns were simple. Bravo.

Another user commented, “Great color and great cut: I like how the button placket is still completely opaque because it is still lined with fabric.” However, another person praised the dress as “lovely because of the shape and color.”

“I’m normally a size 12 in Boden, but this dress was huge on me, so sadly had to return because it was far too long on my 5ft frame (ordered petite). A customer complained that the waist could be a little lower due to the easy flowing fabric. Great color! A different reviewer concurred. Comfortable with a little high waist!

Model wears The Cynthia Button Tea Dress
The Cynthia Button Tea Dress is currently on sale (Image: Boden)

Another purchaser of the green dress added, “I SO wanted to love this because it looks really pretty on the model, but when I tried it on, I felt a little dated,” which was confirmed by my very sweet but sincere boyfriend, who referred to it as “an old lady dress.” Given that the silhouette was nice, a different pattern or color might have worked. I had to give it back, but I was hopeful.

Boden’s sale also includes its Jen Cotton Midi Dress, which is now £56.25, down from its original price of £125. Boden suggests the dress would be perfect for occasions. The product description states: “Holiday, wedding, christening, important work meeting, dinner with friends – get yourself a dress that can tackle any occasion. This one’s just the ticket. Lightweight printed cotton is cut to a flowy, long-sleeved shape that’s finished with a notch neck and belted waist.”

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Lauren Goodger’s pre-boob job days as she reveals new surgery plans

Despite having numerous cosmetic procedures over the years, Lauren Goodger now regrets her experience and requests that her breast implants be removed.

Lauren Goodger is looking to go ‘natural’ after cosmetic surgery regrets (Image: Instagram/Lauren Goodger)

In an effort to feel like her “normal self” once more and be “natural,” Lauren Goodger has revealed that she wants to have her breast implants removed after 11 years.

The 38-year-old former TOWIE star revealed her plans to reduce breast size in a candid Instagram post on Monday, May 5, alongside a photo of her donning pink lingerie. She remarked, “One of the things I regret later in life is having a breast augmentation 11 years ago.” I used to have the ideal boobs, but they have since changed and made me look bigger than before.

Also, they are heavy, and I miss my old boob so much that I’ve found someone to be interested in having my consultation with @marksolomos! I’ve wanted them removed for a long time, but it’s the last thing I can do because I’ve been waiting for anxiety to end them.

READ MORE: Rebekah Vardy ‘in talks to star in huge Netflix show’ as she and Jamie ‘eye up US move’

Lauren Goodger
Lauren Goodger shared a candid Instagram post about wanting her breast implants removed (Image: Instagram/Lauren Goodger)

“I’m bringing you along with me, but it’s still in its early stages!” I’m terrified, but I’m also having implants removed to return to my normal self and want to restore everything to how it was before.

Lauren, who first appeared on TOWIE in 2010 and was first portrayed on the show in 2010, underwent a 34D breast augmentation in 2014. She previously said she loved her breasts, but she recently expressed regret for the procedure.

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The Essex mother, who lost her daughter Lorena shortly after giving birth in 2022, also underwent a “brazilian butt lift” (BBL) in Turkey in 2017. She now regrets deeply that she removed the fat from her stomach, thighs, back, and hips and injected them into her bum.

She stated to Closer just last year, “I looked the b****ks when I had everything finished. I adored how my boobs looked in pictures and received so much attention. But I now regret not having anything. I want to know everything.

Lauren Goodger in 2011
Lauren in 2011 before undergoing a breast augmentation and BBL (Image: Getty Images)

My bum and boobs make me look bigger and hurt me, they say. I want to go back to being natural and change everything.

Lauren also told OK! magazine last year that she didn’t want “anything fake” in her body but was concerned about reversing the surgery. She said: “I don’t want any silicone in my body – I don’t want anything fake.

My boobs should be natural, I want. These large, plastic objects on top of your lungs are not good for you. Because of my boobs, I have trouble breathing and am constantly out of breath. I’m unable to purchase any bras or dresses that will fit me. They are “absolutely massive.”

She said, “When you get things done when you’re younger, it’s great.” I felt fantastic, felt fantastic, and had a great time with them. They no longer look as good as they did when I was older, I had two kids, and I breastfed them. They’ve dropped, they’re absolutely massive, and they make me look bigger. I’d probably look half the size if I got rid of them.

Lauren Goodger in a grey sports bra and dark trousers posing for a selfie.
The former TOWIE star has expressed, ‘I want my boobs natural’(Image: laurengoodger/instagram)

In light of her earlier choices, Lauren wants to impart knowledge about the value of health to her own daughter and the younger generation. She expressed her desire for her child to remain the same age as her, even in terms of her hair color.

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The former TOWIE star also mentioned that she has Botox three times a year but hasn’t had fillers in more than two years. The TV star, who has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice, and Celebs Go Dating, stated that she only wants to be “healthier and happier” and doesn’t drink, smoke, vape, or drink coffee.

READ MORE: Primark’s ‘gorgeous’ £12 bags you can ‘mix and match’

Four every day foods ‘are banned’ at the Met Gala – this is why

The numerous A-listers in attendance yesterday included Madonna, Chappell Roan, and Lewis Hamilton all sporting outfits with the theme of “Tailored for You.”

The Met Gala took place yesterday in New York City(Image: Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Vogue icon Anna Wintour reportedly banned four surprising foods from the extravagant Met Gala menu. The annual New York event saw countless celebrities gather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for one of the biggest nights in fashion.

Madonna, Chappell Roan, and Lewis Hamilton were among the many A-listers in attendance yesterday, donning outfits in the theme of ‘Tailored for You’. The stars walked across the blue carpet before heading inside to view the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition while enjoying music and dinner.

Wintour, a former Vogue employee, calls the shots on what chefs can and can’t serve, which allegedly includes a four-essential food ban. Her hit list includes parsley, garlic, onion, and bruschetta, which you might not normally think of as messy spaghetti or corn on the cob.

Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour arrives for the 2025 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025, in New York
Vogue icon Anna Wintour reportedly banned four foods from the Met Gala(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The source explained that while onion and garlic are notorious for causing bad breath, parsley is off the menu ‘because you don’t want that stuck in your teeth’. Albeit delicious, the New York Post also reported in 2016 that bruschetta can ‘fall easily’ on gowns – a costly mistake.

Kwame Onwuachi was the chef responsible for creating and executing the Met Gala’s 2025 menu. In a recent interview with Vogue, he said that Black experiences of fashion were at the heart of his dishes.

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He continued, “We can be poetic as we want, but it has to be good at the end of the day, but it’s pulled from so many different avenues and routes of the diaspora,” adding, “I was inspired by Black dandyism and the Black experience in fashion.”

Guests were given a variety of small dishes at cocktail hour last night. These included hoecakes with crispy chicken, curry chicken patties, and cornbread with caviar.

Lewis Hamilton, Met Gala Co-Chair, attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating
Lewis Hamilton was among the celebrities in attendance of last night’s event(Image: Getty Images)

First course was served as a curry with a piri piri salad and a cucumber in a Caribbean green-seasoning marinade. Then, hot sauce, rice, and peas were served with creole roasted chicken with lemon emulsion.

Dessert was ‘Bodega Special Cosmic Brownie’ – a sugary doughnut mousse treat—and golden cake with honey-sweet cream. Onwuachi added: “All throughout the meal, there are different aspects of blackness throughout the world represented at the highest level.”

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The Mirror has approached the Metropolitan Museum of Art for further information.

Trump threatens tariffs on foreign films: Who could be hit?

In a social media post on Sunday, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a “national security threat” on foreign films.

Trump’s threat has left many questions unanswered because the details are sparse. We explain what his threat, if it is enforced, might mean for the film industry, how his tariffs might be retaliated against, and how this might affect ticket sales.

Trump announced what, exactly?

Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform that “the movie industry in America is dying very quickly. He added that other nations are “offering all kinds of incentives” to entice independent filmmakers and studios.

According to Trump, “This is a coordinated effort by other nations, and it poses a threat to national security.”

Trump also referred to foreign movies as “messaging and propaganda.”

He ended his post by saying that he was authorizing the US Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to “assemble the process” of imposing a 100 percent tariff on movies that are “produced in foreign countries.”

The White House appeared to step back on Monday. The administration is exploring all options, according to White House spokesman Kush Desai, “Although no definitive decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made, the country’s national and economic security is protected while making Hollywood great again.”

What qualifies as a foreign film, exactly?

One of the many inquiries that Trump’s threat has raised is that.

Films in a globalized world rarely rely on resources from just one country, as happens with most things. Hollywood movies, for instance, might have an American financier but could also be shot abroad with actors and crew from various nations.

Wicked, one of the top-grossing Hollywood movies of 2024, was shot at Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in the United Kingdom.

In Leavesden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, parts of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which was released in 2023, were shot in Warner Brothers studios. In a UK studio, Barbie created the California-inspired Dreamhouse. In addition to creating jobs and supporting local businesses, Barbie’s production contributed more than 80 million pounds ($106m) to the UK economy during the filming process.

The same studio transformed into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in Paul King’s Wonka, which was later adapted into the bright pink pool slides for Rube Goldberg’s candy-churning Rube Goldberg machines.

The Fall Guy, a comedy action film starring Ryan Gosling, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes were two examples of US films that were partially or completely shot in Australia last year. The federal government of Australia offers incentives for significant film projects in Australia, including a 30% discount under the location offset scheme. Similar tax relief incentives are provided in New Zealand.

Nosferatu, a US Gothic horror film, was shot in Prague, Czech Republic, the same year. In addition to other nations, US movies have been shot in Germany, Spain, and New Zealand.

On the other hand, many non-US movies were at least partially shot there. The Brooklyn Bridge, Miami’s beaches, and Chicago’s neighborhoods have all been used as backdrops for romantic comedies and robberies in recent Bollywood films, which has increased Indian tourists’ interest in US cities. Whether or not these movies qualify as “foreign” films would depend on how much money they bring in to the US.

How much do foreign movies rely on the US as a market?

Indian movies are profitable on foreign markets. According to Box Office India, the 2016 movie Dangal, a biopic about India’s famous wrestling sisters, Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat, received about $ 12.4 million from the US and Canada.

The Producers Guild of India president, Shibasish Sarkar, told the Press Trust of India (PTI) on Monday that Indian films made about $100 million at the US box office. Vivek Agnihotri, a filmmaker, told PTI that “the diaspora market, which is price-sensitive, turned into a source of income for Indian films. If tariffs were implemented, Arkar and Agnihotri made speculative predictions that ticket prices would rise. When the movies are going to be on Netflix, Amazon, etc., Agnihotri said, “I don’t think anyone will watch them in theaters.”

The largest Indian diaspora population in the world is 5.4 million people living in the US.

However, Indian movies are not the only ones that make a significant US dollar. The UK franchise centered around Paddington, the anthropomorphic bear, Paddington in Peru, made more than $45 million in the US.

South Korean movies perform well on US screens. The King of Kings, an animated film with Seong Ho Jang’s direction, grossed $54.7 million at the box office in April this year, more than Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, a 2019 Academy Award-winning film, which grossed $53.8 million in the US. These are the US’s highest-grossing South Korean movies. However, Oscar Isaac is one of the stars in the English-language film The King of the Kings, which is in English. A Korean-language movie called Parasite.

On the other hand, movies from nations like China rely hardly on US viewers because language is still a challenge for them to overcome.

Chinese animation film Ne Zha 2 earned $1.9 billion from nearly 80 000 screens in February of this year, according to Chinese ticketing company Maoyan, making it the highest-grossing animated movie in history. mainland China made up over 99 percent of the Mandarin-language film’s box office revenue. Despite being the 14th highest-grossing movie on the planet, Yolo, the Chinese comedy superhit from 2024, earned only $2 million in the US, according to IMDb’s Box Office Mojo.

What other nations’ responses to Trump’s threat?

Tony Burke, the home affairs minister and minister for the arts, responded to Trump’s threat with, “Nobody should be in doubt that we will stand up unwaveringly for the rights of the Australian screen industry.”

Christopher Luxon, the prime minister of New Zealand, stated that his administration was awaiting additional information regarding the tariffs. We’ll have to examine the specifics of what ultimately occurs. But, he said, “We’ll be a great advocate and great champion of that industry and sector.”

Bectu’s head of the UK’s media and entertainment industry, Philippa Childs, demanded protection of the country’s film industry.

An industry that is only just recovering could be severely harmed by these tariffs, according to Childs.

What has the US done?

Following Trump’s announcement, US media stocks dropped on Monday. In early trading, Netflix’s shares dropped by 2.5 percent, while Disney, Warner Brothers, and Comcast all dropped by between 0.7 and 1.7 percent.

Paolo Pescatore, a PP Foresight analyst, told the Reuters news agency, “There is too much uncertainty, and this latest move raises more questions than answers.” Everyone will struggle to comprehend the entire process, which is not something that will happen in the near future. Costs will undoubtedly be passed on to consumers.

Hollywood is “dieing,” according to Trump, right?

Hollywood has experienced a number of setbacks in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hollywood studios made $30 billion globally last year, a decline of about 7% from 2023, according to Gower Street Analytics. Even though the revenue from the previous year was higher than those from 2020, 2021, and 2022, it was still below the pre-pandemic average by about 20%.

The trade unions representing Hollywood writers and performers organized a strike in 2023 to demand better working conditions and better protection against AI use. Some studios shut down while others reduced staff due to this.

Los Angeles, the city where Hollywood is located, was ravaged by wildfires in January of this year. Southern California’s numerous locations for television and film productions were harmed or destroyed. Many actors also lost their homes as a result of the fire.

Many in the US’s film and television industries have rallied to support Hollywood’s revival, calling on California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, to pass laws like increasing tax incentives to do so. The argument is that Hollywood is rife with middle-class workers, gig workers, and local businesses that are experiencing production decline.

Merz fails to be elected Germany’s chancellor in first parliament vote

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Friedrich Merz, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader, lost just six votes in the Bundestag’s first round of voting to become the nation’s 10th chancellor.

Merz, who had been widely anticipated to win the parliamentary election, only received 310 votes in the secret vote on Tuesday.

The political parties will now convene to discuss the upcoming steps in the event that they don’t receive the required majority.

The Bundestag, Germany’s lower house, has 14 days to choose a candidate for chancellor who will need an overwhelming majority, either Merz or another. Next Tuesday could be the next voting session.

Although Merz’s CDU/CSU conservatives won 28.5 percent of the vote in the February national elections, they still need at least one coalition partner to form a majority government.

After Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government fell, the CDU/CSU came to terms with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who had won just 16.4% of the vote in the elections last year.

The two parties would only hold 328 of the total of 630 seats in the Bundestag if the election were to be held by a majority.

In response to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which came second in the vote, the newly formed coalition had set ambitious goals, including promoting defense spending, boosting defense spending, and tightening immigration laws.