The Met Gala, one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar, has seen its fair share of scandals over the years – from smoking celebs to a man trapped in a box
The Met Gala has seen its fair share of eyebrow-raising antics from the glitterati. With incidents ranging from outraged philanthropists blasting celebs for puffing on cigarettes next to invaluable artworks, to a naked party-crasher caged in perspex; from political slogans scribed on haute couture gowns to that nude illusion dress we all can’t forget – it’s no shocker that this night can churn out some wild stories.
The 2025 bash is all set to roll out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a star-studded roster pegged to attend. Brace yourselves for a sizzling scoop of scandal from this year.
To gear up for what’s in store, we’ve looked at a list of the most gasp-worthy Met Gala controversies from yesteryears – just scroll down and take a trip down the memory lane of Met mayhem.
In the naughty noughties, an unruly fad sprouted at the gala as celebs were snapped lighting up in the loo, shots hitting the internet like wildfire. A notorious picture captures ’50 Shades’ sensation Dakota Johnson mid-smoke, while fashion maverick Marc Jacobs, style setter Char DeFrancesco, and rock royalty Frances Bean Cobain joined in with a ciggie-clad group fiesta, reports the Daily Star.
These rebel poses ruffled feathers among the elite as critics reminded that New York has been a no-smoke zone across eateries, bars, and businesses since 2003. Plus, these A-list offenders were blasted as “disrespectful”, merely a stone’s throw away from masterpieces worth millions.
A source vented to Page Six: “As a donor to the Met, I was so insulted to see all these celebrities smoking and taking selfies of themselves in the bathroom.
“Mostly it is disrespectful to the art collection, which needs to be kept 100% smoke-free. I would honestly like to see these people fined by the city.”
In a bizarre 2017 incident, two suited men arrived at the Met Gala with a clear plastic box containing Russian performance artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich, stark naked.
The men dumped the box on the red carpet, leaving security scrambling to cover it with a large white sheet. The box was swiftly removed from the red carpet, with reports suggesting firefighters had to use a saw to crack it open.
Another memorable moment came in 2014 when footage surfaced of Solange allegedly assaulting her sister Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z in an elevator after the Met Gala.
A security guard reportedly intervened during the incident, which took place at The Standard High Line. The trigger for the alleged altercation remains unconfirmed, though some speculate it was due to “family tensions”.
Trailblazer Cher turned heads at the 1974 Met Gala when she rocked up in a diamond-studded, see-through dress with a feather trim and long pointed nails. A sheer, flesh-toned outfit might not raise eyebrows today, but back then, the fashion-forward star left spectators gobsmacked.
The Believe singer pushed boundaries with her daring outfit and is often credited with popularising the “illusion dress” in mainstream fashion.
In 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, made a statement at the Met Gala with a bold message emblazoned on the back of her gown.
Her Brother Vellies dress featured a striking red slogan that read “TAX THE RICH” across the back of the off-the-shoulder, mermaid-style gown, which was paired with a matching white tulle skirt. AOC completed her look with a matching slogan bag.
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