Anyone who watches the Met Gala year in and year out knows that BadGalRiRi is one of the highlights of the red carpet; her internet-breaking omelette dress of 2015, anyone? 2018's Heavenly Bodies' papal moment? Her baby-bump-baring, botanical bridal gown last year? Iconic.
But much to the disappointment of fashionistas everywhere, Rihanna did not show up at the 2024 Met Gala on Monday (local time), despite securing one of the coveted, Anna-Wintour-approved invites.
Ahead of the annual event, the Met Queen teased a "real simple" look in an interview with Extra, promising, "I'm showing up for dinner" - a nod to her typically fashionably late entrances. Met Gala enthusiasts will remember a then-pregnant Rihanna and her partner, ASAP Rocky, closing the carpet last year with an arrival time of 10pm.
Alas, she did not show up for dinner - or at all.
As it transpires, even icons are not immune to a bad case of the flu - which was supposedly the reason for her absence, according to an unnamed source who spoke to People.
The 36-year-old and Rocky, 35, are also parents to two young children: an almost two-year-old son, RZA, and nine-month-old Riot Rose.
In the interview with Extra last month, Rihanna hinted her hair and makeup would have been the star of the show, offsetting her "very simple" ensemble.
"I think it's gonna come to what my makeup and what my hair is going to do," she told the outlet, before adding: "When you become a mom, your style goes from 'bleh' to 'let's see what fits'. And then you wanna be comfortable... Right now my clothes are either too big or too small most of the time."
Other notable no-shows on Monday were Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Harry Styles, Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto. While Miss Swift hasn't made a Met appearance since 2016, there was speculation she would attend this year with her Super Bowl-winning beau, Travis Kelce. However, People reported on April 29 that Swift would be snubbing the iconic staircase to prep for the European leg of her Eras Tour, which kicks off on Thursday in Paris.
Leto also cited his touring schedule as the reason for his absence; his longtime band, 30 Seconds to Mars, is beginning their world tour on Thursday in Poland.
In fairness, the actor's head-turning look at last year's gala would have been a tough act to follow. In honour of the late Karl Lagerfeld - the theme of 2023's shindig - Leto donned a fluffy white cat costume to resemble the fashion visionary's beloved cat, Choupette. Then, of course, there was 2019's look, where Leto posed on the carpet with a lifelike model of his own head.
This year's Met Gala was in honour of the latest Costume Institute exhibition, 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion', with the dress code 'The Garden of Time'. Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya served as the co-chairs of the event, alongside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
To see some of the best looks from the Met Gala red carpet, check out our coverage here.
