Met Gala 2023 - live: Karl Lagerfeld theme blamed for ‘boring’ best dressed list as cockroach steals show

Rihanna arrived fashionably late, preceded by a cockroach that nearly stole the show

Met Gala: Stars walk the red carpet

The 2023 Met Gala has come to a close.

This year’s theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”, which aimed to “examine the life” of the late designer’s fashion legacy.

But while many celebrities showed off their best Lagerfeld-inspired looks, viewers have branded fashion’s biggest night as “boring” due to the black-and-white ensembles that ruled the evening.

However, an unexpected guest went viral for its red carpet appearance. A cockroach was spotted on the red carpet and photographed before being “stepped on”, leading to viewers mourning its death.

The decision to feature the German designer so prominently has also attracted criticism given his history of controversial remarks.

Models protested ahead of the event, with Jameela Jamil among those who condemned the choice. Concerns were also raised about his past fatphobic and body-shaming comments.

In line with the theme, guests were informed that the “most authentic approach” for the Met Gala 2023 dress code would be “to wear an archival look from one of the labels Lagerfeld led”.

Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Campbell, and Jennifer Lopez all walked the red carpet in line with the theme, while some stars took more creative liberties in their Met Gala looks. Doja Cat and Jared Leto, for example, arrived dressed as Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette.

Met Gala 2023 key points

• Met Gala livestream ends abruptly
• The best dressed stars of 2023
• Rihanna arrives fashionably late
• The Met Gala theme and why it’s so controversial
• A cockroach on the red carpet turned out to be a Met Gala highlight

[2 May 2023 01:00 · Meredith Clark]

Blake Lively shares photo of herself pumping breast milk amid Met Gala absence

Blake Lively has shared a photo of herself pumping breast milk after confirming her absence from the 2023 Met Gala.

The Gossip Girl star joked about her plans for the annual fashion extravaganza on Instagram, where she posted a photo of herself pumping in a bathroom.

“First Monday in May,” she captioned the photo.

The post from Lively, who recently welcomed her fourth child with husband Ryan Reynolds, comes after the Deadpool star revealed the reason that he and Blake Lively will not be attending the 2023 Met Gala is only partly due to the new addition to their family.

[2 May 2023 01:15 · Meredith Clark]

Jameela Jamil condemns decision to honour Karl Lagerfeld with Met Gala theme

The Good Place actor Jameela Jamil has spoken out against the 2023 Met Gala theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”.

After previously condemning this year’s Met Gala theme in October 2022, Jamil has once again criticised the annual fashion event for honouring Lagerfeld despite his many controversial comments.

“This is why so many people hate and mistrust Hollywood elite liberals,” she wrote in an Instagram Story posted on Monday. “Because of our rampant selective outrage and hypocrisy. If someone makes good art we turn a blind eye. Why else did [Harvey] Weinstein get away with decades of abuse?”

In an Instagram post shared last October, Jamil called out the German designer for the many instances he spoke in a “distinctly hateful” way, which she acknowledged was “mostly towards women”.

Chelsea Ritschel has the full story.

[2 May 2023 01:30 · Meredith Clark]

North West surprises Kim Kardashian with ‘beautiful’ Met Gala gift

North West has surprised Kim Kardashian ahead of the 2023 Met Gala

Ahead of the annual fashion event, the nine-year-old gifted her mother with some pre-Met Gala massages. In an Instagram Story post, the SKIMS founder shared footage of the relaxing set-up, which included massage tables, candles, bouquets of white roses, and silver balloons that spelled out, “Karl Lagerfeld Met Gala”.

“How sweet is North for surprising me tonight with this for us to relax before the Met,” Kardashian wrote over her Instagram Story.

“Massages before the big day,” Kardashian said in the video. “How beautiful!”

Meredith Clark has the full story.

[2 May 2023 01:45 · Meredith Clark]

Blake Lively’s Meta Gala looks through the years

[2 May 2023 02:00 · Meredith Clark]

Doja Cat dresses as Karl Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette for the Met Gala

The 27-year-old singer came to the 2023 Met Gala dressed as the legendary fashion designer’s iconic cat, Choupette.

The sequined, white Oscar De La Renta dress was equipped with a long, fluffy train, and sequin cat ears. For her makeup, Doja wore prosthetics to truly resemble a cat.

She accessorised the look with a silver headpiece and matching bracelets and rings.

Fans instantly praised Doja Cat’s decision to dress up as Choupette.

“If anyone was going to be Karl Lagerfeld’s cat it would be Doja Cat,” tweeted one person.

Another wrote, “Doja cat as Karl Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette…she said doja CAT”.

Read more here.

[2 May 2023 02:15 · Meredith Clark]

Florence Pugh debuts buzz cut on Met Gala red carpet

Florence Pugh has showed off her new buzz cut on the Met Gala red carpet.

The Don’t Worry Darling star was dressed in a white Valentino gown with a black bow when she debuted her new hairstyle. She accessorised the buzz cut with a large feathered headpiece.

Pugh’s new look was immediately applauded by fans on social media.

“The Florence Pugh buzz cut happened and my god her first Met Gala and it’s flawless. No notes. A red carpet queen #metgala,” one person tweeted, while another said: “Florence Pugh is a full serve and I’m so excited for the buzz cut she looks so hot.”

Chelsea Ritschel has the full buzz cut breakdown.

[2 May 2023 02:23 · Meredith Clark]

Many celebrities have already walked the Met Gala red carpet, but fans on social media are noting the absence of some of their favourite stars.

As theVogue livestream co-hosts told viewers to “take a chill pill and keep waiting” for one last arrival, people on Twitter took the opportunity to poke fun at the Met Gala’s “empty” red carpet.

One fan on Twitter said: “oh so Met Gala 2023 has no blake lively??? taylor swift???? beyoncé???? ariana grande??? selena gomez?? anya taylor-joy??? bella hadid?? zendaya??? saoirse ronan??? emma watson??? lady gaga??? billy porter??? katy perry???”

“everyone just sitting waiting for rihanna,” joked writer Hunter Harris.

“Rihanna PLEASE COME ON!! i beg you! she’s the only reason i’m still tuned into the live stream looking at this empty carpet & the hosts struggling to fill in time until she arrives,” another tweeted.

Unfortunately, the Vogue red carpet livestream ended on Monday evening with no Rihanna in sight.

[2 May 2023 02:30 · Meredith Clark]

Kim Kardashian attends Met Gala red carpet in pearl Schiaparelli dress

Kim Kardashian has arrived at the 2023 Met Gala with her sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

The 42-year-old reality star walked the Met steps red carpet in a white head-to-toe pearl outfit designed by Schiaparelli’s creative director, Daniel Roseberry.

(Getty Images)

While speaking to Vogue livestream co-hosts Derek Blasberg and Chloe Fineman, Kardashian revealed that her nine-year-old daughter, North West, was waiting in the car and watching her mother walk the red carpet from a distance.

Read more from Meredith Clark here.

[2 May 2023 02:36 · Meredith Clark]

Met Gala livestream ends abruptly

Vogue abruptly ended its Met Gala livestream on Monday night after attempts by the hosts to keep the show going, despite a clearly empty red carpet.

It appeared that the stream of star-studded guests began to peter out early, as celebrities had made their way inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

TheVogue livestream co-hosts told viewers to “take a chill pill and keep waiting” in promise of more arrivals, but ultimately ended the show at 9.22pm.

Chelsea Ritschel is following the story here.

[2 May 2023 02:45 · Meredith Clark]

Jared Leto attends Met Gala dressed as Lagerfeld’s beloved pet