After news broke that Zendaya won’t attend the Met Gala this year, rumours have spread around why, as well as who else will be snubbing “fashion’s biggest night out.”
While Zendaya’s reasons for not attending are purely due to busy scheduling and the need for a break — leaving her stylist Law Roach to attend the Met Gala solo for the first time ever —other celebrity snubs have been pinned as statements against the 2026 gala’s billionaire co-chairs and primary donors, The Bezos.
A-listers like Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams (who are co-chairs of the event) are expected to attend this year.
This includes a line-up of stars including Angela Bassett, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, and Teyana Taylor.
However, as the red carpet is rolled out on May 4 (Tuesday, May 5 in Australia), we’ll finally get confirmation of who isn’t attending the expensive and exclusive event, whether they’re boycotting, black-listed, or simply busy.
Here are some of the celebrities we know so far.
Zendaya
Elle magazine first reported that the actress won’t be making an appearance at the Met Gala this year due to coming off back-to-back press tours for her film The Drama and season 3 of Euphoria, and soon entering promotions for her highly anticipated films The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The peoples princess needs a break, and we couldn’t agree more!
Last year, Zendaya attended wearing an all-white Louis Vuitton look for the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” and in 2024, the actress co-chaired the event alongside Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth for the theme “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and dress code “The Garden of Time.”
When it comes to supporting the fashion industry and artistry, Zendaya is your girl.
While there are rumours that Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos’ involvement contributed to her declining the event this year, what is actually confirmed is that the actress deserves her time away from the spotlight (perhaps to do some crocheting with Tom Holland?).
Meryl Streep
While Miranda Priestly would certainly be attending the Met Gala, it appears Meryl Streepwill not this year.
However, surprising as it may be, the actress has never attended in the past.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Streep was apparently invited to co-chair the event this year, but declined.
What’s more, the The Devil Wears Prada 2 star has reportedly “been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended,” according to a representative speaking to The Independent.
“While she appreciates Vogue, Anna, and her incredible imagination and stamina,” the representative said. “It has never quite been her scene.”
Coming off the back of The Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour, Streep’s absence might come as a shock.
However, according to Amy Odell, author of Anna: The Biography, in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Streep’s political stance as an outspoken Democrat makes her believe that the star was “flatly opposed to Bezos’ involvement” and passed on the invite.
Whether this is true or whether the fundraiser is simply not Streep’s cup of tea, fans won’t be seeing the actress on the red carpet, and will have to settle for her co-stars Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci being there.
Zohran Mamdani
While it’s customary for the Mayor of New York City to attend the Met Gala, Zohran Mamdani, New York’s new socialist mayor, has confirmed that he will not be attending this year.
Honestly, it would be shocking if he did attend, given his political stance.
Despite him and his wife, first lady Rama Duwaji, receiving invitations, Page Six confirmed on April 15 that the couple will be sitting out this year.
In an interview with NYC based publication Hell Gate, Mamdani confirmed the reports of his decision not to attend and stated that he believes the Met is “an incredible museum”, however, he’s planning to spend his time focused on his mission to make the city more affordable.
“My focus is also on affordability and making the most expensive city in the United States affordable,” he said. “And that’s what I’m looking to spend a lot of my time focused on.”
Which celebrities have been blacklisted from the Met Gala?
There’s been a long-running rumour that celebrities can get blacklisted from the Met Gala by the organiser Anna Wintour herself.
Donald Trump is the only public figure that Anna Wintour has specifically confirmed she will never invite again, however, there are believed to be others.
In 2017, on an episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, Wintour was asked who she would never invite back to the Met Gala, to which she answered, “Donald Trump”.
The current U.S. president previously attended the fundraiser many times between the 1980s and 2012.
Other celebrities rumoured to be blacklisted include Tim Gunn, Lili Reinhart, Tina Fey, Billy Porter, Zayn Malik and Amy Schumer, however, there has been no confirmation over who has been officially banned or who just refused to ever attend again.
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