Where Were They? The Famous Faces Missing from the 2025 Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala, themed "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style", was a celebration of dandyism and Black excellence, delivering one of the most memorable red carpets in years.

But as fashion lovers fawned over the custom looks and bold silhouettes, a different conversation began swirling online—where were the usual Met Gala icons?

From fashion disruptors to Met Gala royalty, several stars who regularly dominate the steps of the Met were nowhere to be seen this year.

Here are the most notable absences and what we know about why they didn't attend.

Wisdom Kaye (formerly known as Lil Nas X)

One of the internet's biggest style stars—formerly Lil Nas X and now going by Wisdom Kaye—was noticeably absent. He addressed his no-show on Twitter, writing:

“I was not invited to the Met. I know you guys want to see me there, so just letting you all know.”

The tweet quickly went viral, with fans expressing disappointment, especially given how aligned his bold fashion aesthetic is with this year’s theme.

Timothée Chalamet

Despite dating Kylie Jenner—who did attend—Timothée skipped the gala altogether.

Instead, he was spotted enjoying the New York Knicks playoff game and even shared moments from the court-side action on his Instagram stories.

A surprising choice, considering his fashion-forward reputation.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber also chose a sports night over a style night, staying home to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff win while wife Hailey Bieber walked the Met steps solo in a sleek blazer dress.

He celebrated the win with fans on Instagram, fully immersed in hockey season.

Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds

Met Gala veterans and couple goals, Blake and Ryan were both missing in action this year.

Their absence raised eyebrows, especially as Blake’s custom gowns have consistently become the event’s most talked-about moments.

According to reports, the pair opted out quietly amid a wave of privacy around a legal matter involving Lively’s It Ends With Us co-star.

Lady Gaga

Gaga’s over-the-top Met Gala moments are part of the event’s legend, but the superstar was absent due to scheduling conflicts with her "Mayhem Ball Tour."

She was performing in Rio the night of the Gala and has upcoming tour dates across Asia.

Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble

While daughters Kim and Kylie walked the carpet, matriarch Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble were notably absent this year without explanation.

The Kardashians’ Met Gala appearances have long been a family affair, with Kris always arriving early to watch her girls walk the carpet, making Kris’s no-show especially surprising.

Ariana Grande

The pop icon and Wicked star sat this year out, despite fan anticipation.

With her busy filming and music schedule, it’s speculated Ariana skipped the event to avoid overexposure ahead of major promo work later this year.

Sarah Jessica Parker

A Met Gala muse known for embracing the theme to the fullest, Sarah Jessica Parker’s absence was deeply felt.

The Sex and the City star has attended nearly every year, making this one of the more unexpected dropouts.

Emily Ratajkowski & Kaia Gerber

Two of the Met’s go-to it-girls, Emily and Kaia were both missing from the carpet.

No public reasons have been shared, but it hasn’t stopped fans from wondering what looks they might’ve pulled off under this year’s theme.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez, a frequent Met Gala attendee, skipped this year's event. She is currently filming the romantic comedy "Office Romance" and shared a workout photo on Instagram on the day of the gala, suggesting she was in Los Angeles.

LeBron James

Despite being named an honorary co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala, LeBron James did not attend due to a knee injury sustained during the NBA playoffs. He announced his absence on social media, expressing regret for missing the event.

Naomi Campbell

Supermodel Naomi Campbell was notably absent. She shared on Instagram that she was honoured to be invited but could not attend, citing personal reasons.

She expressed support for the event's theme and paid tribute to her late friend, André Leon Talley.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish missed the gala due to her ongoing "Hit Me Hard and Soft" world tour.

On the night of the Met Gala, she performed in Amsterdam, which conflicted with the event's schedule.

SZA

Singer SZA was absent as she was on her Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar, performing in Philadelphia on the night of the gala

---

As much as the Met Gala is about what people wore, it’s also about who didn’t show up. Whether due to scheduling conflicts, lack of invitation, or personal preference, the 2025 event left room for speculation and conversation. One thing is clear—absence only fuels anticipation for next year’s return.