Which Stars Skipped the 2025 Met Gala? Here’s Why Some of Your Favorite Celebs Missed Fashion’s Biggest Night

Several stars were dressed to the nines for Met Gala Monday, while others skipped out on the annual high-fashion event.

This year’s gala took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, honoring the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Guests walking the carpet were asked to follow the dress code — “Tailored for You” — though in classic Met Gala fashion (pun intended!), it was open to interpretation.

The night delivered plenty of unforgettable looks, from Rihanna showing off (and announcing!) her baby bump in a gray Marc Jacobs bustier, to Diana Ross’ massive 18-foot shawl embroidered with her kids and grandkids’ names.

The star-studded evening also welcomed several Met Gala first-timers, including Doechii, BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Coco Jones. But while some newcomers made their way down the carpet, those watching at home were also left wondering why several Met Gala veterans skipped out on the event.

So, which stars were absent from the 2025 Met Gala? Here are all of the celebrities who skipped out on the annual event.

Beyoncé

Since making her Met Gala debut in 2008, Beyoncé has stunned in several memorable looks at the annual high-fashion event. But since 2016, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer has not attended — and this year was no different.

While Beyoncé has not revealed why she skipped the event, she is currently on her Cowboy Carter tour, which kicked off at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on April 28.

After performing three shows in the city, she has two more shows to go before Friday, May 9.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

“Traylor” fans everywhere were hoping that the “Karma” singer and the NFL star would walk the Met Gala red carpet together. However, neither Taylor Swift nor Travis Kelce were in attendance.

Related: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship Timeline

The pair were both invited, but skipped the event due to their conflicting work schedules, sources told TMZ.

A source also told PEOPLE in April 2025 that the couple were focused on “private time out of the spotlight” following Swift’s Eras Tour and Kelce’s football season.

Swift last attended the Met Gala in 2016, when she was a co-chair at the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”-themed event. Meanwhile, Kelce has never walked the Met Gala red carpet.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Since making their red carpet debut in 2014, Blake Lively, who first attended the gala in 2008, and Ryan Reynolds have had many date nights at the Met Gala. The couple sat out on this year’s event, which came amid their ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni.

Lively and Reynolds’ absence isn’t all that surprising, as a source told PEOPLE in March 2025 that they wouldn’t be attending the big night this year.

“Blake and Ryan haven’t gone since 2022, when they were co-chairs, and they will not be in attendance this year,” the source said.

Related: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s Relationship Timeline

Lady Gaga

It’s been a decade since Lady Gaga made her Met Gala red carpet debut wearing a custom Balenciaga gown — but this year, the singer was a no-show.

Though Gaga did not reveal why she skipped the event, the “Abracadabra” singer was performing a massive show in Rio de Janeiro just two days earlier.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish has walked down the Met Gala red carpet several times, and even served as co-chair of the 2021 event. She was absent from the 2025 Met Gala, but she was busy Monday night at another big event: her concert.

The “Ocean Eyes” singer is currently on her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour in Europe, and was playing a show at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome on May 5.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey walked the Met Gala red carpet in a black blazer mini dress, while the “Baby” singer skipped the event.

Although he wasn’t by his wife’s side for the high-profile night, Justin shared an Instagram carousel the next day that featured photos of Hailey’s red carpet look, captioned, “Tell em uncle Charlie.”

The couple’s first and only Met Gala appearance together came in 2021. Hailey walked the carpet solo the following year before taking a hiatus from the event —after attending it for seven years straight — until 2025.

Kris, Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian

The Met Gala was not a Kardashian family affair this year. While Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner were all in attendance, Kris, Khloé and Kourtney were notably absent.

Kourtney and Khloé’s absence doesn’t come as a huge shock, given that they only attended in 2022, and neither have made many red carpet appearances outside of their show in recent years.

Meanwhile, Kris attended the 2024 Met Gala with her longtime partner Corey Gamble — and has not revealed why she didn’t attend the big event this year.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez made her Met Gala debut in 1999 and has been a familiar face in the years since, including serving as co-chair of the 2024 event.

The “On The Floor” singer was absent from the 2025 Met Gala, though she has not revealed her reasoning.

Earlier that day, she posted photos of herself in workout clothes on Instagram.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker has been somewhat of a Met Gala regular, but skipped out this year for a good reason: “I have to work,” she told Entertainment Tonight ahead of the night.

The And Just Like That… star said, “But there’s going to be so much to see and I look forward to seeing what everybody does, and how they interpret the theme and the homework they did for the assignment.”

Ariana Grande

In 2024, Wicked costars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande walked down the red carpet together, though this year, Elphaba walked without her Glinda.

The “7 Rings” singer has only attended two Met Galas before, in 2018 and 2024.

LeBron James

Not only was LeBron James set to make his Met Gala debut, but he was also an honorary chair of the event. However, he announced on X just hours before that he would not be able to attend.

“Unfortunately because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season I won’t be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight as so many people have been asking and congratulating me on! Hate to miss an historical event!” he wrote.

The NBA star added that his wife, Savannah James, would be there in lieu of his absence, writing, “My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done!”

SZA

SZA has had memorable looks at the Met Gala in years past, from her 2018 angelic Versace gown to her 2022 strapless Vivienne Westwood dress that she later admitted she hated.

But this year, she missed out on the event as she was busy performing on her Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

Kendrick Lamar

Lamar skipped out on the 2024 Met Gala, and this year was no different.

Like SZA, Lamar spent the first Monday in May performing at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

The Weeknd

True fans remember when Selena Gomez and The Weeknd made their red carpet debut at the 2017 Met Gala, one year after he attended with Bella Hadid.

But after skipping the Met Gala for the past several years, the “Blinding Lights” singer was notably absent from the event again — though he did not reveal his reasoning.

The Weeknd will be in N.Y.C. next week, however, for the premiere of his movie, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

Selena Gomez

Although Gomez did not walk down the Met Gala red carpet this year, it doesn’t come as a surprise, as the “Lose You To Love Me” singer has not attended since 2018.

Meanwhile, her fiancé, Benny Blanco, has never attended the Met Gala.

Naomi Campbell

Ahead of the big night, Naomi Campbell wrote on Instagram that although she was “honored” to have been invited to the Met Gala, she “regretfully” would not be attending.

Her post came amid a rumored rift between her and Anna Wintour, though the supermodel still shared her warm wishes to the Vogue editor-in-chief.

“Congratulations to Anna Wintour, the brilliant designers, the dedicated Met Gala team, and stunning attendees of tonight’s extraordinary celebration,” she wrote. “I have to say, what perfect timing for the ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ theme. It really celebrates how Black dandyism has shaped fashion and how fashion has been a way for Black people to express who they are and claim their power.”

She added, “Even though I’m not there in person, I’m with you all in spirit, carried by the legacy of my beloved friend, the late Andre Leon Talley.”

Read the original article on People