Surprising Absences: Rihanna, Blake Lively, and More Skip the 2024 Met Gala

The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" - Street Sightings

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The 2024 Met Gala was a star-studded event with celebrities from various industries showcasing jaw-dropping fashion. Some of Hollywood's biggest names chose to skip this year's gala, but there was no shortage of famous faces at the annual soirée. Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday, May 6, the event saw the likes of Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Bad Bunny, and Angel Reese flaunting their fabulous looks for fashion's grandest night.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that this year's gala theme is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," with the dress code as "The Garden of Time."

According to Vogue, the title is inspired by The Met's collection of rarely seen items that will be presented in a new and unique way. The Met's director and CEO, Max Hollein, stated that this groundbreaking show will challenge our imagination and allow us to explore different aspects of art, learn about its history, and ultimately develop a deeper appreciation for its beauty.

Vogue shared more information about the theme on April 15. They described the exhibition as a "garden of time."

The article compared the beauty of a garden, filled with various flowers and plants, to the Met. The attendees will be like the flowers, wearing fashion looks inspired by different historical periods.

Keep reading for the five celebs who surprisingly skipped the 2024 Met Gala.

The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" - Inside

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway attended The 2023 Met Gala celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 01, 2023. The event was captured by photographer Cindy Ord/MG23 for Getty Images.

Fans were surprised to see Anne Hathaway, 41, missing from Monday night’s star-studded gathering. Many were expecting her to attend the event. Despite her absence, her The Idea of You costar Nicholas Galitzine shared that Hathaway had given him a pep talk before his first-ever Met Gala.

“It’s my first Met, so I’m excited to be here,” said Galitzine, 29, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. He mentioned that Hathaway had encouraged him earlier in the day. She told him to simply enjoy the experience.

The actress has been a familiar face at the event; she previously attended in 2023, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010 and 2009.

The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" - Arrivals

imitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Blake Lively

Lively, 36, who is usually a staple at the glamorous event, opted out of attending this year. Her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was also not in attendance.

Harry Styles

Styles' girlfriend, Taylor Russell, made a stunning appearance on the red carpet in a glamorous outfit that left little to the imagination. However, the 30-year-old "As It Was" artist was missing from the event. Styles had previously attended his first and only Met Gala back in 2019.

"Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for People.com

Beyoncé

Rihanna

Fans were excited to see Beyoncé at this year's gala after the release of her Cowboy Carter album. However, she decided not to attend. The last time Beyoncé graced the Met Gala was in 2016, during the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" theme.

Unfortunately, the Fenty Beauty founder, who is 36 years old, had to cancel her plans to attend the event due to falling ill with the flu.

In a previous interview with Vogue, she hinted at her outfit for the event by saying, "I'm going to wear something from Fenty! It could be from Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, or Fenty Savage."

Rihanna has been a regular guest at the Met Gala in the past few years. She attended the event in 2023 and 2021 alongside her partner A$AP Rocky. On both occasions, they arrived fashionably late. In 2018, she even co-chaired the event with the theme "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination."

Editor's P/S:

The 2024 Met Gala was a star-studded event that showcased the latest fashion trends and celebrated the work of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While many celebrities attended the event, there were a few notable absences, including Anne Hathaway, Blake Lively, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé.

Anne Hathaway has been a regular attendee of the Met Gala in the past, but she skipped this year's event. Her absence was surprising to many, as she is known for her stylish and elegant red carpet looks. Blake Lively is another celebrity who is known for her fashion sense, and her absence from the Met Gala was also noticeable. She and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, are often photographed together at red carpet events, so their absence was particularly noticeable. Harry Styles has only attended the Met Gala once, in 2019, so his absence this year was not as surprising. However, he is one of the most popular musicians in the world, so his absence was still felt. Beyoncé is a regular attendee of the Met Gala, and her absence this year was due to illness. She has been a co-chair of the event in the past, and she is always one of the most photographed celebrities on the red carpet.