Rule-breaking selfies and a red carpet roach: Memorable Met Gala moments we're still thinking about years later
Each year, the Met Gala delivers the best and most outrageous of fashion, from wild props to transformations.
While it's the outfits that tend to get all the attention, we're taking a look back at some moments on the red carpet and behind-the-scenes that had more to do with the celebrities.
With days to go until the 2026 Met Gala, take a look back at the most memorable – and in some cases controversial – moments that have everyone talking even years later.
Watch the video above.
The Met Gala is never short on memorable moments, and it's not always about the fashion. Getty Images for The Met Museum/
2025: Rihanna's big reveal
All eyes were on Rihanna when she set foot on the 2025 Met Gala red carpet – partly because of her outfit, and partly because of the exciting news that had been revealed moments earlier by her partner.
A$AP Rocky, a co-chair of the 2025 event, confirmed the singer was expecting the couple's third child after she was spotted with a baby bump earlier in the day.
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Her outfit was a show-stopper, but all eyes were on Rihanna's 'plus one': her growing baby bump. Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
"It's time to show the people that we was cooking up. I'm glad everybody's happy for us because we're definitely happy!" he told reporters.
Shortly after, Rihanna stepped out on the red carpet solo, showing off her growing bump in all its glory.
The expectant mum (and undisputed Met Gala style queen) wore a black blazer, grey shirt and red cravat teamed with a wide-brimmed hat.
2023: The red carpet roach
One of the most talked-about Met Gala moments in recent years had nothing to do with the celebrities in attendance.
For the 2023 gala, one surprise guest had photographers scrambling to get a picture.
A cockroach was the unlikely red carpet star of the 2023 Met Gala. X/ Variety
A cockroach scurried up the steps of the red carpet, sending photographers and reporters into a frenzy, as per a 22-second video from Variety.
The surprise cameo quickly became the talk of everyone watching from home, but sadly, the roach didn't get to party inside the event with the stars.
In a follow-up post to X (formerly Twitter), Variety announced: "It is with deep sadness that we must report the #MetGala cockroach was stepped on."
RIP Met Gala roach, you'll live on in internet memes forever.
2022: Kim Kardashian's Marilyn moment
It's the red carpet costume that triggered a fierce debate on everything from the preservation of historic artifacts to body image.
In 2022, Kim Kardashian wore the dress Marilyn Monroe famously wore when she sang Happy Birthday to US President John F Kennedy in 1962.
Monroe's historic gown – which had never been worn by anyone else – was loaned to the reality star by Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum in Florida under strict conditions, a fact that attracted intense backlash.
Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday Mr President' dress to the 2022 Met Gala. Getty
The museum later denied reports the dress had been damaged during its Met Gala outing, resulting in pulled seams and missing crystals.
Kardashian had expected some pushback, admitting on The Kardashians, "I'm a little nervous some people will hate, and just be like, 'How dare she think she can step into Marilyn's dress.'"
She also drew criticism for admitting she lost 16 pounds (7.3kg) in just three weeks in order to fit into the gown, using intense diet and fitness methods: "I didn't starve myself, but I was so strict."
The controversial outing also marked Kardashian's second red carpet event with then-boyfriend Pete Davidson. Patrick McMullan via Getty Image
2022: The background glance seen around the world
Thanks to fans on social media, this seemingly normal photo from the 2022 Met Gala blew up and became a viral meme.
In the foreground of the photo, you can see actress Daisy Edgar-Jones posing for her red carpet pictures.
But if you look behind her, you'll spot her Normal People co-star Paul Mescal.
The unassuming red carpet photo that became a global talking point. FilmMagic
What had the internet abuzz was that Mescal appeared to have his attention trained on Edgar-Jones, all while posing for photos with this then-partner, singer Phoebe Bridgers.
The photo was so talked-about, Edgar-Jones eventually weighed in.
In a 2024 interview with WhoWhatWear, the actress said the attention around the pic was "wild, considering the innocence".
Edgar-Jones explained Mescal had suggested they meet up at the Met Gala, however he ended up being late and she "was stood at the entrance".
Daisy Edgar-Jones said Paul Mescal was looking at her from afar simply because they were "pals". Getty
"Finally Paul came with Pheebs and we were waiting and did the carpet together," she said, referring to Bridgers.
Speaking of Mescal, she added, "He's my pal so he's probably just going, 'Hey, there she is.'"
2019: Red carpet reveal that even impressed Anna Wintour
US Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has been a staple at the Met Gala since she became co-chair in 1995.
Anna Wintour has seen it all at the Met Gala, but Lady Gaga left her stunned with her 2019 effort. Getty Images for The Met Museum/
Across her three decades at the event, Wintour has seen a lot of celebrity looks, but there was one she stopped to watch on the red carpet: Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga was a co-chair for the 2019 event, which had the theme, Camp: Notes on Fashion.
Instead of wearing just one look for the red carpet like other guests tend to do, Gaga had four outfit changes unveil in real time as she walked up the Met steps.
But Wintour had no idea what the star had planned until she revealed it all on the red carpet for the whole world to see.
The singer's outfit underwent four transformations in real time, beginning with this voluminous pink gown... Getty Images for The Met Museum/
...which was removed to reveal a black strapless number underneath. Getty
Gaga delivered a performance on the red carpet, removing the pink dress she arrived in to reveal a black strapless one beneath.
According to Wintour in a video interview for Vogue, the singer had reached out to her a day or two before the gala to share she wanted to "create performance art" on the red carpet to truly embody the theme of camp.
"I said, 'Great, can't wait to see you there'," Wintour recalled her response.
However, Wintour said she "had no idea" what Gaga was going to do.
Beneath the black gown was a pink fitted dress, which was then removed to reveal... WireImage
"The first I learned a little bit more about it was as she walked with extraordinary panache down Fifth Avenue and I started to see the images pop up on everybody's phones."
"I was lucky enough to stand at the top of the stairs to watch her memorable performance," Wintour said.
2018: A stylish proposal
Rapper 2 Chainz had a last-minute accessory in his pocket to complete his longtime partner Kesha Ward's 2018 Met Gala outfit.
2 Chainz dropped to one knee on the Met Gala stars to propose to partner Kesha Ward in 2018. Getty
While walking the red carpet, 2 Chainz shocked onlookers when he got down on one knee to propose to his partner.
According to People, the pair had first gotten engaged back in 2013 at the BET Awards but were not married.
Ward flashed her ring to photographers.
"I just knew it'd be historic. It would be in somebody's Google search on down the line," the rapper told People of why he chose the gala for his proposal.
She said yes! Getty Images for Huffington Post
"It might be even in the history book and I'm just a debonair lil' fella so I figured I – why not?"
2015: The selfie that broke all the rules
The Met Gala has one big rule that was broken by a star-studded bathroom selfie in 2015.
Phones were officially banned by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour that year; while photos can be taken on the red carpet, once inside, phones must be off.
"In short: It's a secret. For this reason, guests must abide by the no phone (and therefore, no social media) policy," Vogue confirms.
But in 2017, Kylie Jenner shared a now-infamous mirror selfie taken inside the museum's bathroom, breaking the gala's "no selfie" rule.
The photo is packed with celebrities, including Jenner's sisters Kendall and Kim Kardashian.
1996: Princess Diana lets rip
Princess Diana threw out the royal rulebook with her lingerie-inspired Met Gala look in 1996. Penske Media via Getty Images
The Met Gala has had all kinds of stars attend over the years, from singers to supermodels and in this case, even the occasional royal.
Princess Diana made her first and only Met Gala appearance in 1996, wearing a gorgeous slip dress designed by John Galliano for Dior.
But Galliano later revealed the Princess of Wales had made a surprising modification to the dress on the night.
"Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car," the designer said in the series, In Vogue: The 90s.
The Princess of Wales ripped the corset out of her Galliano gown, even surprising the designer himself. Patrick McMullan via Getty Image
"I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out. She didn't want to wear the corset," he revealed.
Galliano said Diana "felt so liberated. She'd torn the corset out. The dress was much more sensuous."
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