Skip to main content

The 2026 Met Gala was the star-studded event it was expected to be. However, fans did notice that some A-listers we were expecting to see or have seen in the past skipped “fashion’s biggest night.”

The reason some celebrities and high-profile individuals skipped and criticized this year’s event is because it was sponsored by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who were named honorary chairs. Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour were the co-chairs this year and the theme was “Fashion is Art.”

The activist group “Everyone Hates Elon” held protests in the streets outside the venue. The protests highlighted labor practices at Amazon and Bezos’ influence in politics. They also strategically placed small bottles of fake urine (using water and food coloring) around the museum, drawing attention to reports that Amazon drivers are forced to urinate into bottles so they can meet the company’s productivity goals. In addition, the Amazon Labor Union staged a “Ball Without Billionaires” as an alternative fashion show.

Taraji P. Henson, who has attended the Met several times, including in 2025, was a no-show in 2026. She liked and commented on an Instagram post by comedian and content creator Meredith Lynch calling out celebs attending the event.

“I am so confused by some ppl that are going,” Henson wrote. “I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!”

Model Bella Hadid did not attend the event either and also liked Lynch’s post.

Some other famous faces noticeably absent from the gala were Zendaya, Meryl Streep, Olivia Rodrigo, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Lisa Ann Walter, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

While some reports indicate that Zendaya’s busy schedule with multiple press tours for her new film The Drama and Euphoria season 3 were why she did not attend, others believe her absence was linked to the protests. Streep’s absence shouldn’t come as a surprise though. The Devil Wears Prada star has been invited to the event several times but has never attended, with her reps insisting it’s just “not her scene.”

Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet did not walk the carpet with his partner, Kylie Jenner, and opted to instead attend the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. The city’s mayor broke with tradition, declining his invitation to the Met ahead of time. Rodrigo’s snub also appeared to be deliberate as she engaged with activists’ posts during the gala.

And Walter made no secret about what side she’s on as she joined protesters and spoke at the”Ball Without Billionaires.” The Abbott Elementary actress went after Bezos, saying, “How did an event that’s supposed to celebrate creativity, artistry, and fabulousness in all genders end up revolving around this Temu Lex Luthor, who profits off of pushing working people to their very brink? Now, I’ve been to some awkward parties, but that is next level. I mean, it’s really just sad. The man thinks he can buy cool.”

No reasons were given as to why past attendees Grande and Lovato were not there this year.

Best in News