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From Doja Cat Meowing To Rihanna’s Omelet Dress: Looking Back At The Most Controversial Met Gala Dresses
The Met Gala is one of the most highly anticipated events in the entertainment world, drawing some of the biggest names in the entertainment and fashion industry. The Met is known for the bold fashion choices it makes and the themed dress code.
Over several years, there have been instances in the Met Gala that have produced a lot of iconic moments. Even though these are iconic, they are controversial fashion moments as well.
The attendees, in an attempt to stand out and make themselves look eye-catching, cross the traditional boundaries of the red carpet. Moreover, it has witnessed numerous polarizing and unforgettable fashion moments in the history of the Met Gala.
Just when the Met Gala 2024 is around the corner, let’s have a look at those iconic as well as controversial costumes the celebrities wore, which became the talk of the town.
Most Controversial Dresses at Met Gala (Last Decade)
There is no person left in the entire universe who is not aware of Rihanna’s 2015 Met Gala look. After she attended the event in that yellow gown, there were a lot of memes made with reference to the dress.
People compared it to pizza pies, omelets, and whatnot. This was one of the outfits that started a lot of gossip and was controversial as well. Met Gala is not just a night where they dress up, but they also make a statement.
This is a platform where fashion meets controversy. Celebrities push their limits and boundaries to make a statement and to grab attention. It is a place that is known to have stirred up a lot of heated debates as well as divided opinions.
From mismatched themes and iconic tributes, there have been a lot of instances. Here are some of the most popular instances that have become controversial over the last decade.
1. Sarah Jessica Parker (2015)
The theme for Met Gala 2015 was “China: Through The Looking Glass.” This theme was mostly set with the intention of exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics and art on Western fashion.
However, the controversy started when Sarah Jessica Parker came to the event with a “dragon lady” headpiece. There were many people who felt that it was her intention to preserve the harmful Asian stereotypes.
This incident started a bigger conversation about the long-going discussion about cultural appropriation in fashion and the requirement for diversity and greater sensitivity in the entertainment industry.
2. Scarlett Johansson (2018)
Back in 2018, Scarlet Johanson attended the Met Gala in a Marchesa burgundy gown. Georgina Chapman was the co-founder of the fashion label and the wife of Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced producer in Hollywood.
The theme of the Met Gala that year was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” the main aim was to explore an iconic intersection between Catholic Imagination and fashion.
However, the way Johanson wore became a topic of conversation and controversy because of her association with Weinstein. Harvey was recently accused of sexual harassment, and various women assaulted him.
3. Rihanna (2018)
Rihanna is popular for her bold fashion choices and has always managed to capture attention. However, her 2018 Met Gala outfit was a little too controversial for the event, and people could not stop discussing her look.
Her Maison Margiela, designed by John Galliano, raised a lot of eyebrows and grabbed attention. Her outfit included a short skirt and a crown, which was a little inappropriate for the event.
Some people even commented that her outfit was disrespectful to the theme of religious tradition and that it was insensitive of her to wear that when she was aware of the theme of that year’s Met Gala.
4. Lady Gaga (2019)
Lady Gaga moved the crow at the 2019 Met Gala with her 16-minute reveal of her dress dramatically. She made her grand entry in a billowing pink gown by Brandon Maxwell, and then the entire thing changed into black lingerie with fishnet stockings and platform boots.
Even though the dress was well aligned with the theme of the event, some thought that the entire outfit was a little extra for the theme. The theme of the event that year was “Camp: Notes On Fashion.”
The theme celebrated theatrical, exaggerated, as well as over-the-top fashion. However, not everybody thought of the dress that way. Some believed it was an iconic moment for Lady Gaga and in the history of Met Gala.
Some thought that it showed off Lady Gaga’s commitment and creativity and pushed boundaries. People have different opinions, and not everyone will agree with what celebrities choose to wear. So, it remained a controversy, as some thought it to be excessive, some loved her boldness.
5. Cara Delevingne (2021)
It was the Met Gala 2021, and Cara Delevigne moved the crowd with her bold outfit. She wore a white vest with the words “ped the patriarchy” carved on it. Dior designed her entire outfit.
Even though she wore the vest with the intention of promoting gender equality and challenging conventional gender norms, the outfit was praised and became a topic of controversy.
There were various people who liked the fact that she chose the platform to highlight such an important social issue, and there were people as well who thought that the phrase was offensive and too proactive.
Moreover, Luna Matatas, a Toronto-based sex educator, claimed that she had originated the phrase and asked for credit and pepper recognition for her work. This incident got hyped and highlighted how important it is to acknowledge the origin of social movements and to be responsible and ethical towards using any language in pop culture and fashion.
6. Kim Kardashian (2022)
Kim Kardashian came in an iconic dress that Marilyn Monroe wore at the 2022 Met Gala, and that started a lot of criticism and controversy for some people. The theme of the Met Gala that year was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty.” The theme was decided to honor the late fashion designer who passed away in 2019.
The people who started the controversy accused Kim of disrespecting the iconic dress, which is considered to be a historical artifact and one of the most expensive dresses. She had to reduce her weight by almost seven kilos to fit into that beautiful dress.
Later, Bob Mackie, the designer of the dress, mentioned that it was a “big mistake” to lend her the dress. There were instances when people condemned the fashion industry and said that they chose to prioritize publicity over promoting sustainability and preserving cultural heritage.
7. Hailey Bieber (2019)
Well, the 2019 Met Gala was supposed to be a big deal for the Beibers. People anticipated that Hailey Bieber would make her relationship with Justin Met Gala official, but she turned up alone without her husband.
The theme of the 2019 Met Gala was “Camp: Notes On Fashion.” And Hailey came in an Alexander Wang, baby pink sleek gown. Well, it sounds simple, but there is more to the story. The dress became popular as the “thong dress.”
It seemed simple from the front, but the back said a different story. Her backless dress showed off the g-string rising into a cut-out. Even though there was a controversy about it, some people thought she did not take it far.
8. Rihanna (2015)
Rihanna has stirred up various controversies in the history of the Met Gala, and her outfit for The Met Gala 2015 is one of the most iconic and controversial at the same time. The theme for the Met Gala 2015 was “China: Through The Looking Glass.”
It took the designers two years to make this dress, and the inspiration was drawn from the traditional Chinese imperial robes. This canary yellow dress had intricate work done in it and had an elongated train behind it.
Well, there is nothing new; whenever a celebrity makes a bold choice, two different sets of reactions come rushing. One group praised her for her bold looks, while the other group criticized her for making it over the top.
Moreover, this dress became an unforgettable moment in the history of the Met Gala, and you can often find other dresses that are influenced by this dress Rihanna wore.
9. Madonna (2016)
Madonna wore a black Givenchy dress for the Met Gala 2016 event. The theme for the year 2016 was “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.” And the dress she wore had strategic cutouts which revealed her breasts and buttocks.
This daring outfit passed waves through the crowd, and again there were divided opinions among the two groups. There were fashion critics who did not like what she wore, and there were fans who were fans of her dress.
Some people praised her for her bold choice, while others made provocative statements and said that the dress was inappropriate and attention-seeking. However, despite all these reactions, her look definitely made an impression and became a dress that people would talk about and remember in the Met Gala history.
10. Kendall Jenner (2017)
Kendall Jenner attended the 2017 Met Gala in a daring La Perla dress that featured 85,000 hand-painted crystals, and it was like a celebration in the human form. However, it was deemed as vulgar and inappropriate.
Even though the dress became a topic of controversy, Kendall stood by the decision she made and presented herself in the most amazing way, with confidence in that dress. The dress started a heated conversation about the role of sex appeal in fashion.
Even though the opinions were divided, she held her own. One side said that she made a bold statement, and the other side said that her outfit crossed the line and turned out to be tasteless.
11. Kim Kardashian (2021)
Kim Kardashian knows how to turn heads. It was the 2021 Met Gala, and Kim Kardashian came in an all-over black ensemble designed by Balenciaga. The outfit has a full-body suit, along with black gloves and a mask as well that covers her face, with her ponytail showing out.
Well, her bold look started a lot of conversation, and there were people who praised her for her creativity and boldness. But not everyone agreed with this, and she said that she had ruined the spirit of the event and had gone too far this time.
Later on, she revealed that she was inspired by the movie “Dune,” and she wanted to go for a futuristic and dramatic look.
12. Lilly Collins and Vera Wang (2023)
It is known to everyone that every year, The Met Gala decides on a theme, and every celebrity dresses according to that. There have been multiple controversies about the fact when that celebrities have gone too far off the theme to wear something creative and extraordinary.
But here, the case was the opposite. Going too much with the theme can also stir up controversial conversations. It was Met Gala 2023, and Lily Collins and Vera Wang attended in matching dresses.
It might look subtle from the front, but the back of the dress was quite surprising. The tulle-long train was the most fascinating part, and it became a topic of controversy. The tulle train has the word “Karl” written in big block letters and in glitter.
The theme for that year was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” Well, if anybody was not aware of the theme, they made it obvious to them and spelled it out for the audience.
13. Jared Leto (2019)
Wearing something controversial or something that does not align with the theme is something, but carrying a replica of your own head down the “pink carpet” is something entirely different.
“Camp: Notes On Fashion” was the theme of the year, and Jared Leto did not disappoint. However, the bedazzling gown covered in jewels designed by Alessandro Michele for Gucci is not the first thing that will get your attention, but the replica of his own head that he carried with himself.
The severed head with the blood-red gown gave out a “Game of Thrones” vibe. Even though it was quite in alignment with the theme, it was also a little unnerving for a few, which stirred up a heated conversation.
14. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (2021)
The 2021 theme of the Met Gala was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended the event in Brother Vellies gown designed by Aurora James and made a fierce statement.
Everything was fine until she turned around, and the back of her gown revealed the phrase “Tax the Rich.” Some thought it was progressive of her to bring up the issue in the event, some hated it, while others thought it to be performative.
However, she stood by her choice and certainly made an impact. She also became the most Google Met Gala dress since the year 2024.
15. Timothée Chalamet (2021)
Timothee Chalamet was the co-chair of the Met Gala 2021, and of course, there were people waiting for him to show up. Even though the look was on theme and was certainly on-brand for the star, many people hated the look.
People thought his attire was too casual for the grand event, as he wore Converse sneakers and sweatpants on the red carpet. Some thought that he was under-dressed for this designer-heavy luxury event. However, if you think about the theme, he was absolutely on point.
16. Kim Kardashian (2019)
Kardashian has always been a front-runner, be it in matters of fashion or controversy. She stirred up a conversation with her wet-look Mugler dress, which had a corset bodice and beads that mimicked water droplets.
But the thing that shocked the audience most was her snatched waist. Well, there is a logical answer to it. She wore the tightest corset and shapewear ever possible, and the look was incredibly iconic.
The star designed this iconic dress, and it took almost eight months to create the entire dress. The dress was quite restrictive and came with physical demands.
In an interview with Vogue, she mentioned, “Once we’re all at the top of the carpet, we can all take a deep breath. I don’t know if I can in this corset. I honestly had to do practice. It’s a proper corset by Mr. Pearl. I never had one like this. It is insane.”
17. Katy Perry (2019)
Going with the 2019 theme, “Camp: Notes On Fashion,” Katy Perry came dressed like a giant chandelier and working light bulbs. The entire attire was from Moschino and was designed by Jeremy Scott.
The mini dress was covered in silver Swarovski crystals along with clear Swarovski crystals that dripped down the bodice and had a matching collar. She balanced the chandelier corset around the waist, which also had a matching headpiece that looked like a small chandelier.
She dressed like a human chandelier and did that to shine like a diamond. But that was not the end of it. She gave the audience another reason to strike up a controversy. She changed her outfit and wore a cheeseburger costume. Some found it bizarre, while some found it amusing, but it was definitely something to talk about.
18. Taylor Swift (2016)
Aylor Swift has a signature style of her own. People have always seen her in a sweet outfit with her signature lipstick, but this time, she made sure to surprise the audience. She has been criticized many times over the years, but this time, people did not agree with her boldness.
In the 2016 Met Gala, Taylor went for a metallic look designed by Louis Vitton and paired it with cutout boots, but the thing that shocked the audience most was her glam look, which was accompanied by a blackish-purple lipstick and bleach-blond bob.
The theme went with the future of fashion and technology, but people thought it was quite bold for her, and it was also the beginning of her Reputation era.
19. A$AP Rocky and Rihanna (2021)
People were hoping and expecting a lot from Rihanna at the Met Gala 2021. She arrived almost an hour late with A$AP Rocky and confused the audience with her dress. They found it difficult to decode the meaning of her dress and her entire look.
However, it became a lot more clear when Rihanna explained the meaning behind her look in an interview. She mentioned that she took inspiration from a black hoodie. Some people liked the outfit, while others criticized it and said that it was not a red-carpet-worthy attire.
She said, “The thing we’re usually incriminated by as Black people… I wanted to empower that. I wanted to take it and make it mine and make it fashion.” Well, whether you agree with her statement or not, the Balenciaga outfit became a topic of conversation and, of course, started a controversy.
20. Kim Kardashian (2013)
2013 was Kim’s debut year at the Met Gala. However, it did not turn out as she had hoped. She attended the Gala as a plus one with her then-husband, Kanye West. Back then, she was pregnant with North, their daughter.
She went for a high-neck, long-sleeved floral Givenchy gown, and it did not take a while to go viral and become a meme. There were a lot of comparisons to couch material for her dress.
In 2019, for her Vouge Lufe in looks video, she shared her debut experience, where she mentioned, “I think Robin Williams even tweeted it, said I looked like Mrs. Doubtfire. I was crying the whole way home because I just couldn’t believe it.”
21. Gwyneth Paltrow (2013)
This was a case where Gwyneth Paltrow did not follow the theme of the Met Gala. The theme of the 2013 Met Gala was “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.” Paltrow came wearing a bright pink long-sleeved gown by Valentino.
In an interview with USA Today, she criticized the Met Gala and mentioned that she did not enjoy the event at all. She said, “I’m never going again. It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all.”
However, after four years, she made a comeback at the 2017 and 2019 Met Galas.
22. Karlie Kloss (2019)
It is not always necessary to do something disastrous to become the topic of discussion to start a controversy. Met Gala is such a platform where it is possible to start a controversy when you are not dressed according to the theme.
The model started a controversy as she did not follow the theme of the 2019 Met Gala, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” and went with a gold minidress with black puffy sleeves. However, in 2023, she admitted that she deserved to be criticized.
Some people even said that her dress was a miss-fit for the high-fashion event and did not match the high-level glamour of the Met. Earlier in the night, Kloss took a selfie and posted it with the caption “Looking camp right in the eye,” and that became a meme instantly.
Vogue released a video series known as Life in Looks, where she said, “Oh boy, Yes, this was the Met Gala that I think I broke the internet, but not in a good way. I still get trolled about this look, where I was ‘looking camp straight in the eye.’ And I still get, rightfully, trolled. I’ll accept it. Honestly, I deserved that one.”
23. Billie Eilish (2021)
It was Billie Eilish’s debut at the Met Gala, and it was definitely a memorable one. She was already popular for her signature baggy, oversized style, and that is why it came to the audience as a surprise when she turned up in a peach-colored tulle ball gown designed by Oscar de la Renta.
She carried her old Hollywood glamour with soft, smokey makeup and a blonde bob. She came as a shock to the audience as her entire wardrobe is quite different from what she came wearing. But isn’t that the point of the Met Gala? Breaking boundaries and trying something different?
She mentioned in an interview with Vogue, “Big dresses were my favorite thing when I was a kid. I had so many dresses; I would wear a dress every single day. It’s really body image that tore that s**t down. Why do you think I’ve been dressing the way I have for years?”
She added, “I knew I wanted something big, with a corset. I love corsets; I have a lot of corsets at home.”
24. Doja Cat (2023)
Well, the theme itself was controversial when it was announced. The theme for the year was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” Even after this, Doja Cat chose to pay homage to Lagerfeld and channeled Choupette, his beloved cat.
She wore a custom-made gown designed by Oscar de la Renta embroidered with more than 350,000 hand-embroidered silver beads. The gown even had a hood along with cat-like ears.
She did not stop at that; she also embraced the role of a cat and chose not to speak. Anytime she was asked a question, she meowed at them. Some of them loved her look and said that she followed the theme, while others mentioned that it was the worst look of the Met.
25. Frank Ocean (2021)
It was not exactly the outfit that started the controversy but the accessory she carried. It was the unusual accessory that caught the attention of all. He did not go for something typical like a stylish bag or a fancy hat.
He chose to carry a neon bag shaped like an alien baby. People could not figure out the meaning of this artistic expression and how it was related to the theme of the Met Gala.
26. Kylie Jenner (2016)
Well, there is not much of a controversy here. She looked amazing on the red carpet with her shimmery dress. However, the dress cut her pretty badly all through the night, and she bled a lot.
She shared this through her social media, and that is when people started discussing about it. There was a heated debate about how far are people gonna go for fashion.
27. The streaker (2014)
In 2014, the theme of the Met Gala was “Charles James: Beyond Fashion,” and there was a streaker present on site who stole the show. The man who was under the radar was Vitalii Ediuk.
Even though he did not make it to the stairs, he made quite a few headlines. And can you deny that there is something more intriguing and controversial than a streaker on a red carpet event?
Wrapping up!
There have been multiple moments in the history of the Met Gala where people have stirred up controversy. There was an instance where Princess Diana made history unknowingly. Even though it was not controversial, her dress has become an iconic piece in the world of fashion.
Then there was Zendaya, who had her Cinderella moment on the red carpet in 2019. Her dress transformed from grey to blue as she waved the wand by Law Roach. So, with the Met Gala just around the corner, here is a recap that you need to know all the controversies from the last decade.
