7 Celebrities Who Skipped the Met Gala This Year – Reasons Revealed

Hollywood stars dazzled at the recent Met Gala. However, some A-list celebrities opted out of this prestigious event, including last-minute no-shows. Discover why these stars were missing in action.

The 2024 Met Gala took place on May 6 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Several public figures donned dazzling outfits for this star-studded event.

Although some confirmed their attendance, they ultimately missed the occasion. Jennifer Garner, Taylor Swift, Jared Leto, and singer Katy Perry, are among the celebrities who were absent from the recent Met Gala.

Rihanna Faced Health Issues

Billionaire and pop icon Rihanna was notably absent from the 2024 Met Gala red carpet. According to her representative, she was ill with the flu just before the event.

Last year, Rihanna and her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, with whom she has two children, were highlights of the gala. At that time, she was pregnant with their second child and wore a stunning white gown adorned with Chanel’s iconic Camellia flower, featuring a dramatic train.

The gown, designed by Valentino, was Rihanna’s tribute to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld. Although she couldn’t attend this year’s “Garden of Time” themed event, she had previously hinted at her intended look.

“I’m coming in as an extra this year,” adding “coming for dinner,” said the Grammy Award winner in an April 2024 interview reflecting her new priorities as a parent.

Ben Affleck’s Work Commitments

Ben Affleck was also missing from the gala as his wife, Jennifer Lopez, made a solo entrance. He was busy filming “The Accountant 2” in Los Angeles which has been in production since March 2024, and had not planned to attend with Lopez due to his schedule.

Lopez, a co-chair of the Met Gala, stunned onlookers with her entrance. She wore a bespoke Schiaparelli Haute Couture dress made of sheer tulle and embellished with sparkling rhinestones and pearls, featuring a flowing train.

The dress required over 800 hours to embellish with 2.5 million silver foil bugles and beads. For her stunning look, Lopez paired it with a Tiffany & Co. necklace showcasing more than 75 carats of diamonds, along with matching earrings and Andrea Wazen platform heels.

This event marked Lopez’s third consecutive Met Gala appearance without Affleck, who recently faced criticism online following his unexpected outburst at a live event.

The film producer made a surprise appearance at the live roast of Tom Brady recently and some speculated about his appearance and possible cosmetic procedures. Social media users claimed that he looked barely recognizable and accused him of having plastic surgery.

“Ben Affleck couldn’t afford good plastic surgery? No wonder he seems so angry. That’s permanent,” wrote one online user on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Another asked, “THIS is Ben Affleck? Why does his face look so different? It’s almost like he had some nip & tucks done.” One person claimed, “Ben Affleck is on stage fresh from a face lift.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Decline Invites

Neither Taylor Swift nor her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, attended the Met Gala. Each individual received an invitation to the event but they both said no. Swift was busy with her “Eras” tour, which coincided with the gala, while Kelce’s reasons remain undisclosed.

The couple has not yet debuted at high-profile events together, with their only public appearance being at Madonna’s Oscars after-party. Swift’s last Met Gala attendance was in 2016, where she served as co-chair and dazzled in a metallic Louis Vuitton ensemble.

The Grammy Award winner also co-chaired the event alongside renowned British editor, Anna Wintour, actor Idris Elba and British American designer, Jonathan Ive.

Katy Perry’s AI Stand-In

Singer Katy Perry also missed the Met Gala due to work commitments, although an AI-generated image of her at the event circulated online causing quite a stir.

One X user posted the photo on the platform and penned, “Katy Perry. That’s it. #MetGala.” But Perry was quick to note that she was not there to begin with.

She clarified on Instagram, writing, “Couldn’t make [it] to the MET, had to work,” sparking fan discussions about the realistic yet artificial image. The viral photo which garnered over 11 million views, originally from the 2018 Met Gala, showed Perry in a striking floor-length floral gown.

Her fans expressed admiration for the AI representation, wishing it had been real. After clarifying this, Perry’s fans expressed their thoughts regarding her absence and the AI photo. “I wish it was real,” one commented on X.

Another stated, “This is AI, but would have definitely been one of the best looks if it were real.” Someone else said, “This is incredible.” “I don’t want to see any other picture, she won this is beautiful,” another social media user commented.

At her previous Met appearances, the singer/songwriter wore two outstanding outfits. At one occasion, she arrived dressed up as a chandelier and at another, as a giant hamburger.

When asked about the 2024 Met Gala, the dark-haired beauty said, “My only regret in my cheeseburger outfit is I didn’t roll down the stairs in it. Because I would have like…to have that on tape forever.”

Jennifer Garner Recalls Past Experience

Jennifer Garner, who attended the Met Gala only once back in 2007, has not returned since. She described the experience as intimidating and has chosen not to attend subsequent galas.

She recounted her experience in December 2023 and admitted, “I found it a little scary, so I haven’t been back.” Garner reminisced about wearing a “magical” red Valentino gown for that singular appearance paired with a matching clutch purse.

She was also the Italian fashion designer’s date for the night then. “That was really like, majestic and special,” said the award-winning Hollywood film star of her outing with Valentino, who is now 91 years old. Garner’s last appearance at the Met was in May 2007 which is 17 years ago.

Jared Leto’s Tour Commitments

Jared Leto was also absent this year, prioritizing his band’s tour over the gala. The musician hinted that he would be absent from the event in an April 2024 interview.

“Back on the road. It’s been five years,” Leto shared on why he would not be there and how long it has been since he went on tour. His rock band, 30 Seconds to Mars, is currently on their “Seasons World Tour” in Europe.

Leto, known for his dramatic gala outfits, commented, “I will be there in spirit with my head and my cat,” referencing his previous year’s costume that perfectly aligned with the theme honoring Karl Lagerfeld.

This was his way of honoring the designer’s relationship with his beloved cat, Choupette. His costume featured the signature white fur and the cat’s blue eyes. He previously rocked a fake severed head.

Blake Lively’s Mysterious Absence

Blake Lively, a regular at past Met Galas, did not attend this year. Having recently welcomed her fourth child with Ryan Reynolds, Lively has been less active in the public eye.

Her last Met appearance in 2022 featured a stunning Versace dress inspired by the Statue of Liberty, showcasing her knack for thematic dressing. The movie star shared why she opted for the look in an interview.

“Instead of looking at Gilded Age fashion, I wanted to look at architecture. New York has been a critical part of who I am…so I thought I would love to arrive in a copper dress and have it patina as I ascend the red carpet,” she explained.

Lively made a fashion statement then by boldly wearing two gowns for the night. She made a quick change while on the staircase on the biggest nights in fashion. The first dress featured shades of rose pink, gold, and copper. The second garment had hues of blue with matching gloves, similar to the first outfit.

Lively’s dynamic fashion choices at the Met have always garnered attention, and her absence this year was felt by many who look forward to her imaginative ensembles. The Los Angeles native has been at the fundraiser gala event ten times and this is her second time skipping out on it in consecutive years.

It is believed the “Gossip Girl” star failed to make it at the 2024 Met because her last born is still young but there could be various reasons as to why. Lively has not stated why she was absent this year.

While the 2024 Met Gala showcased a plethora of stunning fashion statements and memorable appearances, the absence of these celebrities was notably felt.

Each for their unique reasons—be it health, work commitments, or personal choices—these stars chose to skip this year’s event, leaving fans and fashion lovers wondering about what could have been.