8 Celebrities Who Didn’t Attend the 2025 Met Gala

Rich & Famous May 24, 2025

Each year, the Met Gala served as a high-profile intersection of fashion, fame, and art. But while many stars jumped at the chance to walk the iconic red carpet, not everyone shared the same enthusiasm for the event.

Some celebrities openly criticized the experience, while others found themselves uninvited due to controversial remarks. And in a few cases, there was no official ban—it was just a matter of personal preference.

Here’s a closer look at the celebrities who either didn’t attend the 2025 Met Gala or likely weren’t welcome.

1. Rachel Zoe

Celebrity stylist and fashion entrepreneur Rachel Zoe once made headlines for suggesting she had more influence than Vogue. Back in an interview, she said something that ruffled feathers: “Anna Wintour is iconic, but when a tabloid shows someone in an unknown designer, that designer blows up in a week. Vogue doesn’t always do that.”

That statement didn’t go unnoticed. While she eventually made it to the 2012 Met Gala, she hadn’t been seen at the event since, and the speculation around her exclusion remained.

2. Donald Trump

Instagram | realdonaldtrump | Trump is permanently off the Met Gala guest list, according to Wintour.

When asked by James Corden to name one celebrity who would never receive an invite to the Met Gala again, Anna Wintour didn’t hesitate. Her answer? “Donald Trump.” That one-word response sealed his fate with the event.

The former president, despite being a public figure with past ties to fashion circles, was definitively off the guest list.

3. Amy Schumer

Comedian Amy Schumer was one of the most vocal critics of the Met Gala experience. During a candid moment on The Howard Stern Show, she described the event as, “People pretending to chat while dressed up like idiots. I don’t care about fashion—I really don’t like fake conversations.”

Her brutally honest perspective didn’t earn her a public ban, but her comments certainly put her at odds with the spirit of the gala.

4. Tim Gunn

Longtime fashion mentor Tim Gunn was disinvited from the Met Gala after revealing an awkward behind-the-scenes moment. As he told it, “Someone asked me for the most shocking thing I’ve seen in fashion. I said it was seeing Anna Wintour being carried down five flights of stairs by two large bodyguards. That was it—but the fallout was wild. We’ve been in a cold war since.”

His absence from the event ever since spoke louder than any official statement.

5. Gwyneth Paltrow

Oscar-winner and wellness mogul Gwyneth Paltrow gave her opinion after her 2013 Met Gala appearance, calling the event “hot, overcrowded, and not all that glamorous once you’re actually there.” She added that everyone seemed uncomfortable and the experience just didn’t live up to the hype.

While she returned in later years (2017 and 2019), she hadn’t attended since and didn’t seem eager to go back.

6. Zayn Malik

The former One Direction member attended the Met Gala in 2016 with Gigi Hadid, but that was likely his one and only. In a 2018 GQ interview, he shared, “I’d rather be at home doing something that matters to me than standing around in a fancy suit for cameras. That kind of attention isn’t my thing.”

It was safe to say Zayn’s Met Gala days were behind him.

7. Tina Fey

Instagram | gitabass | Tina Fey dismissed the Met Gala as a gathering of pretentiousness in ridiculous outfits.

Tina Fey also made her thoughts crystal clear. After attending once, she told David Letterman, “It’s a bunch of people acting important, wearing ridiculous outfits. I dragged my husband along, and I’m still hearing about it. Once was more than enough.”

Her blunt take resonated with many who questioned the event’s extravagance—and she hadn’t returned since.

8. Lili Reinhart

Known for her role in “Riverdale,” Lili Reinhart called out the extreme body standards promoted at the Met Gala. After Kim Kardashian’s weight-loss reveal to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s dress, Lili responded via Instagram Stories: “Admitting you starved yourself to fit a dress, knowing young people are listening—it’s disgusting.”

She later admitted in an interview that she didn’t expect to be invited back, saying, “It was a great night, but I probably said too much to make it back again.”

While the Met Gala was often seen as the ultimate fashion event, it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. These celebrities made that crystal clear—whether through sharp words, personal values, or just a desire to skip the circus. And honestly? That kind of honesty was refreshing.