See the 16 Most Controversial Met Gala Looks Ever
See the 16 Most Controversial Met Gala Looks Ever
Catherine Santino, James Mercadante, Samantha StutsmanSat, May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Doja Cat attends The 2024 Met Gala on May 06, 2024 in New York City; Kim Kardashian attends The 2022 Met Gala on May 02, 2022 in New York City; Sarah Jessica Parker attends the 2015 Met Gala on May 4, 2015 in New York City.Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic
At the Met Gala, making a statement is practically the dress code.
The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It takes place on the first Monday in May each year and marks the opening of the museum’s Costume Institute spring exhibition.
The invite-only event brings together celebrities, designers, athletes and cultural figures, all dressed according to a specific theme tied to the exhibition. This year, the theme is "Fashion is Art," and the gala will be co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour.
From Cher's once-scandalous sheer gown in 1974 to Cara Delevingne and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's headline-making political statements in 2021, the event has long been a stage for bold, conversation-starting fashion.
Ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, here's a look back at the iconic event's most daring — and most debated — style moments.
01 of 15
Doja Cat's Wet T-Shirt Dress in 2024
Doja Cat attends the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 6, 2024Credit: John Shearer/WireImage
Dressed for the 2024 Met Gala's theme, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," Doja Cat turned heads in a sheer white T-shirt dress designed to look soaking wet — exposing her black thong and plenty of skin — while opting for a chrome "tears" makeup look.
"I know that people are going to do flowers, but my flower of choice is the most-used flower. And it's cotton," she told Entertainment Tonight that evening. "I wanted to do a white T-shirt, also because a white T-shirt is timeless. And it felt very poetic to choose this. I knew it wasn't going to blend in too much, and I don't really like to blend in."
While some praised the look as subversive, others weren't as impressed.
Designer and E! commentator Christian Siriano didn't hold back during the live TV commentary, asking, "Other people did 400,000 hours of crystals and beading, and Doja gets to wear a wet sheet, and it's a hit?"
He continued, "I think for the Met, it really is about celebrating the craft of the brand and the artistry of the Met, which is celebrating art. I think she could have. I just wanted to see Doja in something so cool."
02 of 15
Cher's "Naked Illusion Dress" in 1974
Cher and friend Paulette Betts attend the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on Nov. 20, 1974Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Cher's 1974 Met Gala look is one of the most famous "naked dresses" of all time.
For that year's theme, "Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design," the music icon arrived with designer Bob Mackie in a sheer, jewel-encrusted jumpsuit layered with feathered fringe.
Though now considered one of Cher's most iconic fashion moments, the outfit — which, according to Mackie, she chose herself — received mixed reactions at the time.
“The place went crazy,” Mackie told Interview in January 2025. “I’ve never seen so many photographers just come out of the shadows at the Met and take her picture. And, of course, she was in every newspaper the next day, and they’ve been printing it in the last 50 years, over and over again.”
“But it was just amazing,” he added. “People were horrified, they thought, that’s not fashion, she’s just naked at the Metropolitan.”
03 of 15
Kim Kardashian’s Marilyn Monroe Dress in 2022
Kim Kardashian attends the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 2, 2022Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Always one to stir things up on the Met Gala carpet, Kim Kardashian broke the internet in 2022 by arriving in a gown originally that belonged to Marilyn Monroe. The iconic movie star famously wore the glittering ivory dress when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Kardashian borrowed the gown from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which purchased the dress from Julien's Auction in November 2016 for a whopping $4.81 million.
The reality star revealed that she had to lose 16 pounds to fit into the dress, as she wasn’t permitted to alter it.
"I tried it on, and it didn't fit me. I said, 'Give me three weeks.' I had to lose 16 pounds," Kardashian told Vogue correspondent La La Anthony on the red carpet. "It was such a challenge. It was like a [movie] role. I was determined to fit [into] it. I haven't had carbs or sugar in about three weeks. We're having pizza and donut party back at the hotel [after the Met Gala]."Critics called out Kardashian not only for her extreme weight loss measures but for her choice to wear such a historic dress.
Kardashian inspired even more backlash after the internet noticed that the gown appeared to have been damaged during the event — though the star denied causing any harm in a November 2025 lie detector video for Vanity Fair with her All's Fair costar Teyana Taylor.
04 of 15
Cara Delevingne’s “Peg the Patriarchy” Breast Plate in 2021
Cara Delevingne attends the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on Sept. 13, 2021Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty
At the 2021 Met Gala, Delevingne made a statement in Dior Haute Couture white trousers and a matching breastplate reading, “Peg the patriarchy.” The bold phrase caused an uproar among fans; while some praised the model for her bravado, others criticized her for being crass.
The ensemble also caught the attention of Canada-based sex educator Luna Matatas, who said she coined and trademarked the term “peg the patriarchy” in 2015.
"This happens to small artists all the time,” Matatas said via Instagram at the time, per Refinery29. “So much so that I have an assistant whose job includes finding and tracing people printing and selling 'Peg the Patriarchy.' Remember that, as a fat, queer POC, I am working twice as hard just to do what I'm already amazing at. From censorship to patriarchy to racism, all biz barriers specific to my social location.”
05 of 15
Rihanna's Papal Headpiece in 2018
Rihanna at the 2018 Met Gala in New York CityCredit: Jackson Lee/Getty
For the 2018 theme of "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” Rihanna wore a papal mitre (a ceremonial head-dress of bishops) and an opulent strapless mini dress with a matching collared robe by Maison Margiela Artisanal.
While the singer’s look adhered to the theme, some critics suggested it was disrespectful to the Catholic religion.
“My religion is not your costume,” one user shared on social media, per The Independent.“Among the worst things I’ve ever seen in my life,” said another. “Heresy at its finest.”
06 of 15
Kim Kardashian's Face-Covering Balenciaga Look in 2021
Kim Kardashian at the 2021 Met GalaCredit: Mike Coppola/Getty
Kardashian subverted expectations at the 2021 Met Gala by arriving in a face-covering body stocking by Balenciaga.
The custom ensemble featured a long-sleeve turtleneck bodysuit worn under an oversized T-shirt dress with a long pleated train. She completed the look with jersey boots, jersey gloves and a mask that covered her face and head.
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While some turned their noses up at the unexpected look, it highlighted Kardashian’s undeniable influence.
"This look on Kim is like a new subculture and fashion statement," a source told PEOPLE at the time. "No logo, no face, but everyone knows it's her.”
07 of 15
Karlie Kloss Missing the Camp Theme in 2019
Karlie Kloss departs the Mark Hotel for the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 6, 2019Credit: Andrew Toth/Getty
Karlie Kloss may never live down her 2019 Met Gala look. The model caught flak for seemingly ignoring the theme of “Camp: Notes on Fashion” and instead opting for a gold minidress with puffy black sleeves.
In November 2023, Kloss admitted that she “deserved” the criticism.
"Oh boy," Kloss said during Vogue’s video series, "Life in Looks." "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," she said with a laugh. "I'll accept it. Honestly, I deserved that one.”
08 of 15
Katy Perry’s Chandelier Dress in 2019
Katy Perry poses for photographers during the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 6, 2019Credit: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
In 2019, Katy Perry approached the "Camp" theme head-on by arriving dressed as a giant chandelier with working light bulbs.
The ensemble, designed by Jeremy Scott for Moschino, consisted of a silver Swarovski crystal-covered mini dress with a matching collar and clear Swarovski crystals dripping down the bodice. She balanced a chandelier corset around her waist and wore a matching smaller chandelier as a headpiece.
She later changed into a hamburger costume for the event.
09 of 15
Kim Kardashian’s “Wet” Mugler Dress in 2019
Kim Kardashian at the 2019 Met GalaCredit: Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic
Kardashian shut down the red carpet in 2019 with her wet-looking Mugler dress with a corset bodice and beads mimicking dripping water.
“This is about eight months in the making,” Kardashian told Vogue on the red carpet of the designer, who came out of retirement to create the piece. “He envisioned me as this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping.”
Kardashian’s look came with intense physical demands, as the dress’ corset was so restrictive.“Once we’re all at the top of the carpet, we can all take a deep breath,” she told Vogue. “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.”She added, “I have doughnuts waiting for me tomorrow morning: hot, fresh doughnuts. They are special ones from here, vanilla with rainbow sprinkles.”
10 of 15
Sarah Jessica Parker Accused of Cultural Appropriation in 2015
Sarah Jessica Parker attends the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 4, 2015Credit: Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic
Several 2015 Met Gala attendees were accused of interpreting the theme of “China: Through the Looking Glass” in inappropriate ways, but Sarah Jessica Parker received the bulk of criticism.
The Sex and the City star wore an H&M dress of her own design with a Philip Treacy headpiece that some said was offensive.
“While some found Sarah Jessica Parker’s Phillip Treacy headpiece to be the night’s dramatic pièce de résistance, in my eyes, I saw blatant racism: the spot-on Asian Dragon Lady stereotype,” said Mashable writer David Yi.He continued, “Parker probably didn’t realize, then, that she was setting Asian women back 75 years to the 1930s to the first derogatory ‘dragon lady’ portrayal. The original term was used to describe strong Asian women, but was a pejorative that made them into villains.”
11 of 15
Rihanna's Enormous Fur-Lined Gown in 2015
Rihanna at the 2015 Met GalaCredit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty
Rihanna’s fur-lined yellow gown at the 2015 Met Gala caused quite the stir. The 55-lb. creation (designed by Chinese couturier Guo Pei) seemed to take up the entire staircase as the star made her entrance, and subsequently provided endless fodder for memes.
Years later, the Fenty founder admitted that she was nervous about the crowd’s reaction and had her driver circle the Metropolitan Museum of Art three times before she arrived.
Rihanna’s look also drew criticism from fur activists, as the yellow garment was made with fox fur. Per Dazed, anti-fur protesters stormed the September 2015 launch of her perfume RiRi and chanted “shame on Rihanna.”
12 of 15
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Anti-Punk Look in 2013
Gwyneth Paltrow smiles at the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 6, 2013Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Gwyneth Paltrow went against the 2013 Met Gala theme of “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” by wearing a long-sleeved bright pink gown by Valentino.
She later criticized the gala in a May 2013 interview with USA Today, saying of her experience, “I’m never going again. It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all.”Paltrow ended up returning to the Gala in 2017 and in 2019.
13 of 15
Kim Kardashian in a Givenchy Floral Dress in 2013
Kim Kardashian poses on the red carpet stairs during the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on May 6, 2013Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty
Kardashian’s Met Gala debut didn’t go exactly as she hoped. The mogul attended the 2013 Gala as her then-boyfriend Kanye West's plus one, and at the time, she was pregnant with their daughter, North.
She opted for a long-sleeved, high-necked floral gown by Givenchy — and the look was instantly turned into memes online due to comparisons to couch material.“I was crying the whole way home because I just couldn’t believe it,” Kardashian shared in November 2019 during her Vogue "Life in Looks" video. “There was all these memes about me and this couch and I think Robin Williams even tweeted it and said I looked like Mrs. Doubtfire.”
14 of 15
Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney in “Rock Royalty” T-shirts in 1999
Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney pose together at the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on Dec. 6, 1999Credit: Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty
Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney decided against traditional evening wear for the 1999 Met Gala theme of “Rock Style.”
The daughters of Steven Tyler and Paul McCartney, respectively, appeared in studded off-the-shoulder tank tops reading “Rock Royalty.”
15 of 15
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "Tax the Rich” Dress in 2021
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attends the Met Gala in N.Y.C. on Sept. 13, 2021Credit: Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Met Gala debut was nothing short of bold.
At the 2021 event, the Democratic congresswoman from New York wore a white Brother Vellies gown with the political slogan "Tax the Rich" splashed across the back in red lettering. She accessorized with a pair of red shoes and a bag also bearing the phrase."It's really about having a real conversation," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters about the inspiration behind the statement. "It's about fairness and equity in our system, and I think that this conversation is particularly relevant.”
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