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Which Celebrities Skipped the Met Gala 2023?

Hailey Bieber, Blake Lively, Zendaya, and More Stars Who Skipped the 2023 Met Gala

May 2 2023

As usual, the 2023 Met Gala was a fashionable star-studded event with appearances from the biggest names across music, entertainment, sports, and, of course, fashion. This year's event, held on 1 May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, welcomed everything from pregnancy reveals (courtesy of Serena Williams and Karlie Kloss) and date nights to couple debuts, solo returns, and family outings to the Met's red carpet. However, there were also a lot of notable faces absent, and many fashion fans are wondering why.

The biggest surprise this year was Blake Lively, a Met Gala staple, announcing days before fashion's biggest night that she wouldn't be attending. Her husband, Ryan Reynolds, also opted out of attending to, instead, handle some football business across the pond, according to him.

But others like Ariana Grande, Bella Hadid, Timothée Chalamet, Kaia Gerber, and even the late Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette (the designer was this year's Met Gala theme inspiration), were nowhere to be found.

Ahead, take a look at all the biggest stars who skipped the Met Gala and the likely reasons why some didn't arrive.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

1. Why Did Hailey Bieber Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Hailey was noticeably absent from the 2023 fashion event after attending last year in a white Saint Laurent gown, sans husband Justin Bieber. The Rhode Skin founder hasn't publicly revealed why she skipped the red carpet this year, but a Cosmopolitan report suggested (via an unverified screenshot of an Instagram DM) that it may have something to do with a new beauty launch Hailey's working on.

Last month, Hailey opened up about what a hard year she's had in an Instagram Story, writing in one post that she's had some of her "saddest, hardest moments" of adulthood in 2023, so her Met Gala absence may not come as a surprise. She was also recently involved in a fan-fuelled feud with Selena Gomez, her husband's ex, that started back in February. It ended roughly a month later after Gomez told her fans via Instagram to stop bullying Hailey, which the latter publicly thanked her for.

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

2. Why Did Blake Lively Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Blake Lively was among the first stars to confirm she'd be skipping the Met Gala this year. Though her stunning looks in past years have made her a staple at the annual fashion event, on 28 April, she told reporters at the Tiffany & Co. reopening in New York City that "you will not" see her at the gala. However, she added, "But I will be watching."

On 1 May, the same day as the Met Gala, Lively posted a mirror selfie of her pumping breastmilk in a bathroom, doubling down on her absence.

Lively last attended the gala in 2022, where she wowed onlookers with her colour-changing custom Atelier Versace gown. Her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was her date, sporting a simple black velvet tuxedo.

Image Source: Getty / Theo Wargo

3. Why Did Zendaya Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Zendaya was one of the most anticipated attendees for the 2023 Met Gala, however, the event came and went without her hitting the Metropolitan Museum of Art's famous steps. Though she has yet to explain her absence, it may not come as a surprise to fans who know she hasn't shown up to the Met Gala since 2019, when she and longtime stylist Law Roach pulled off their magical Cinderella moment on the red carpet.

Though Zendaya's presence was missed at this year's gala, she's been out plenty of times in previous months at red carpet events. She recently attended CinemaCon to promote the upcoming "Dune" sequel, and prior to that, she attended the SAG and NAACP Image Awards.

Image Source: Getty / Jamie McCarthy

4. Why Did Lady Gaga Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Lady Gaga didn't show up to this year's Met Gala but we're pretty sure she has a good reason. Back in early April, the pop star and actor was spotted all over New York City dressed as Harley Quinn as she filmed "Joker: Folie à Deux," the highly anticipated Joker sequel with Joaquin Phoenix. Though Gaga briefly took a break from filming to perform at the 2023 Oscars, it seems she's staying focussed on her movie project until its completion.

Gaga last attended the Met Gala in 2019 for the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme, where she wore an enchanting hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown.

Image Source: Getty / Variety

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5. Why Did Beyoncé Skip the Met Gala 2023?

It's been seven years since Beyoncé last attended the Met Gala, but fans were still looking forward to a possible appearance from her this year. Especially after she attended the 2023 Grammy Awards and won four awards, making her the most-awarded artist in Grammys history with a total of 32. However, it may be a good thing that she didn't show up because her absence is most likely due to her upcoming "Renaissance" world tour, which kicks off in Stockholm, SE on 10 May.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

6. Why Did Jimin Skip the Met Gala 2023?

ARMYs hoped to see BTS' Jimin make his long-awaited Met Gala debut this year but, sadly, the K-pop singer didn't attend the event. Had Jimin shown up, he would've been the first among his band members to make it to fashion's biggest night of the year. It's unclear why the BTS member was absent despite him having been in NYC and many industry insiders predicting his attendance, but he recently dropped his debut solo album, "Face," on 24 March.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

7. Why Did Miley Cyrus Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Cyrus hasn't attended the Met Gala since she showed up for the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme with her then-husband Liam Hemsworth in 2019. The "Muddy Feet" singer skipped the event last year after finishing her South American Attention tour, though it's unclear why she opted not to attend the 2023 event, too.

Image Source: Getty / Gotham

8. Why Did Khloé Kardashian Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Some of the Kardashian-Jenner clan showed up to the Met Gala this year, but Khloé Kardashian was noticeably absent as her sisters posed on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's steps. Last year was the Good American cofounder and mum of two's first time at the fashion event and fans expected to see her show up with the rest of her sisters, sans Kourtney Kardashian, but it appears she opted out. The reason is unclear at this time.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

9. Why Did Kourtney Kardashian Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Kourtney was another Kardashian who missed out on this year's Met Gala. Though she made her big debut at the fashion event last year with her husband, Travis Barker, it seems the two skipped the chance to have another PDA-filled evening on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's red carpet.

Image Source: Getty / Jamie McCarthy

10. Why Did Kris Jenner Skip the Met Gala 2023?

If the Kardashian-Jenner clan are a Met Gala staple, then mumager Kris Jenner is just as notable for attending the annual fashion event to support her girls. So many were surprised to find that the matriarch skipped this year's gala, despite daughters Kim Kardashian, Kylie, and Kendall Jenner all attending. Kris is famously known for waiting at the top of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's steps for take pictures of her daughters' looks.

It's unclear why Kris didn't show up to the gala but she was last seen on 24 April at an NBA playoffs game in Los Angeles with her longtime partner Corey Gamble, Kardashian, and the latter's 7-year-old son Saint. The group attended the Lakers vs. Grizzlies game to support Tristan Thompson.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

11. Why Did Megan Fox Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Fox's 2023 Met Gala absence may not be a surprise if you've been following her relationship drama with Machine Gun Kelly this year. The pair reportedly went through a rough patch after breakup rumours swirled in early February. People noted, per sources, that the two had a dispute during Super Bowl weekend. "They haven't officially called off the engagement, but Megan took her ring off," an insider told the outlet, adding that while the couple "have had issues in the past, things seem pretty serious this time."

Though Foxx and Kelly were photographed smiling and holding hands during an April trip to Hawaii, according to photos published by the Daily Mail, the current status of their relationship remains unclear.

The two haven't attended the Met Gala together before, but Fox made her solo debut at the event in 2021.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

12. Why Did Taylor Swift Skip the Met Gala 2023?

Swift's Met Gala absence may be a bit obvious seeing as though she's still on her sweeping Eras tour, but fans still held out hope that she'd make a surprise appearance. The Grammy-winning singer last attended the gala back in 2016 for the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" theme, where she fittingly wore a daring, tech-inspired Louis Vuitton dress.

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

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