For the Met Gala 2023, honoring Karl Lagerfeld, major absences included Zendaya, Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and many of Lagerfeld's iconic muses like Claudia Schiffer and Linda Evangelista, who didn't attend despite the theme, alongside regulars like Kris Jenner, while some stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Tina Fey were reportedly cut for past negative comments.
However, not every A-lister has decided to attend the party. There are plenty of living legends who, for whatever reason, have foregone attending the event, including Meryl Streep, Will Smith, the entire cast of "Friends," and more. Here are some of the biggest celebrities to have skipped the Met Gala so far.
Multiple sources told TMZ that they had been invited but were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. They weren't seen at any after-parties either. Their decision not to attend is understandable, as a source told Us Weekly in April that Swift and Kelce had decided to be a little more private.
8 Celebrities Who Are Banned From the 2025 Met Gala (or Simply Don't Want to Go Again)
Taylor Swift Radio
Sources told TMZ the "Karma" songstress did not attend the illustrious annual event due to a scheduling conflict for the ninth consecutive year.
dead celebrities that we miss
Similarly, less popular persons and current teen idols are referred to as B-list celebrities – and the ones with lesser fame as C-list ones. In 2000, Entertainment Weekly interpreted a C-list celebrity as "that guy (or sometimes that girl), the easy-to-remember but hard-to-name character actor".
Pop superstar Rihanna is rumored to be wielding her influence to prevent the Kardashian family from attending the prestigious 2025 Met Gala. This move allegedly stems from a long-standing dislike for the Kardashians, fueled by past events and personal connections.
Cher's "Naked Illusion Dress" in 1974
20, 1974. Cher's 1974 Met Gala look is one of the most famous "naked dresses" of all time.
"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. The pair were both invited, but skipped the event due to their conflicting work schedules, sources told TMZ.
She lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks to fit into her vintage Met Gala gown. How did Kardashian lose weight? She says she cut carbs and ate “just the cleanest veggies and protein.” She also ran on a treadmill and wore a sauna suit twice a day.
Billie Eilish skipped this year's Met Gala, as she had a concert in Amsterdam that evening. Fake AI photos of her at the fashion event still surfaced on social media, however. The singer responded to people's comments about her outfit in them on her Instagram Story last night.
Color-coding is also used, as Ward Durrett likes to go with the woman-man-woman-man pattern if possible. And another key rule that might surprise you: "Never seat spouses next to each other," she said. "The whole point of these things is to meet new people, and to be interested in what others are doing.
The 3-3-3 clothing rule is a simple styling method for creating many outfits from few items: choose 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes, which allows for 27 potential combinations (3x3x3) and reduces decision fatigue, often used for travel or building a minimalist capsule wardrobe. It's a versatile concept, sometimes expanded to include 3 layers (like jackets or cardigans) for even more looks, making dressing easier by focusing on mix-and-match versatility with core pieces.
Here's a list below of celebrities who are introverts that might just surprise you.
Kim Kardashian has publicly shared diagnoses and health experiences, including psoriatic arthritis, positive antibody tests for lupus/rheumatoid arthritis (leading to stress-related health concerns), and a recent brain aneurysm diagnosis linked to stress. She also speaks about her daughter North's dyslexia, advocating for parents of children with learning differences, and has faced discussions about using disabled models in her brands, sparking debates on representation and inclusion.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Skip the 2025 Met Gala
Royal fans will have to wait at least another year to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex make their Met Gala debut; despite speculation they could attend, Meghan and Harry won't be in attendance at the 2025 Met Gala, which celebrates Black tailoring.
Based on recent estimates (late 2025), Kourtney Kardashian is slightly richer than Kendall Jenner, with Kourtney estimated around $65 million and Kendall around $60 million, though both fortunes stem from reality TV, endorsements, and individual business ventures like Kourtney's Poosh and Kendall's 818 Tequila.
But with a squeaky clean, perfectly tended-to public image and strong work ethic, she has quickly soared to the heights of the A-list and built a bankable name for herself. To get to where she currently is, she had to shed her Disney baggage and prove herself an actor capable of taking on grown-up roles.
Opposite to the A-List Actor, F-LISTERS are aspiring actors who never made it in Hollywood... YET.
Tom Cruise is probably the biggest "old school" A-lister left and even his biggest projects like Maverick and the Mission Impossible films are now mostly sold off of their IP rather than the fact that they are his latest movie.
The oldest living celebrity is often cited as Elisabeth Waldo, a violinist, composer, and conductor born in 1918, making her over 106 years old as of late 2024/early 2025, though specific lists update frequently; however, for actors, Eva Marie Saint (born 1924) and Ray Anthony (born 1922) are consistently among the oldest, with Anthony being one of the oldest male celebrities.
There's no single "saddest" death, but Robin Williams, Chadwick Boseman, Steve Irwin, and Freddie Mercury are consistently cited for their suddenness, impact, or tragic circumstances, with Williams' death by suicide after battling depression and Boseman's battle with colon cancer in secret being especially heartbreaking for fans. Other frequently mentioned deaths include Heath Ledger, Prince, Carrie Fisher, Betty White, Michael Jackson, and Brittany Murphy, often due to unexpectedness or personal struggles.
In 2025, the world lost many notable figures, including Hollywood legends like Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Gene Hackman, musical icons such as Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, and D'Angelo, and prominent figures like architect Frank Gehry, director Rob Reiner, and even Pope Francis, marking a year of significant losses across entertainment, music, and public life.