Met Gala mass exodus: String of stars cancel on fashion's big night

The 2025 Met Gala encountered several unexpected last-minute withdrawals, ranging from seasoned attendees to even one of the honorary co-chairs for the year.

Although the event date, the first Monday of May, is well-known, these celebrities either couldn’t manage their tight schedules or chose to skip fashion’s grandest occasion.

On Monday morning, DailyMail.com exclusively confirmed that Jennifer Lopez was skipping the event. 

In a move that startled fans just days before the fundraiser, Sarah Jessica Parker announced with regret that she would be absent, citing a scheduling conflict as the reason.

The theme of this year’s Met Gala is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style and the co-chairs are Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour.

The red carpet fixture has walked the famed steps of the Met 12 times since her first appearance in 1995.

The 2025 Met Gala was hit with a number of shocking last-minute cancellations from longtime veterans of the event to one of this year's honorary co-chair; Sarah Jessica Parker seen in 2022

The 2025 Met Gala was hit with a number of shocking last-minute cancellations from longtime veterans of the event to one of this year’s honorary co-chair; Sarah Jessica Parker seen in 2022

‘I have to work,’ the Sex and The City star told Entertainment Tonight. ‘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.’

While speaking about the Met Gala, the Golden Globe winner continued: ‘I care a lot about it and I want to try to honor the work of the curators and everybody who sort of inspired this moment for those of us who get to attend.’

Hours before the event, LeBron James broke the news he would not be making his Met debut, despite his role as the event’s honorary chair.

The NBA superstar took to X to express his devastation as he explained his absence was due to a knee injury that he ‘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. 

James, 40, noted that his wife Savannah, 38, would be attending in his place. 

‘My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done!’ he gushed. 

On Monday, British supermodel Naomi Campbell also revealed she won’t be descending upon the ‘blue carpet.’ 

On Monday, British supermodel Naomi Campbell also revealed she won't be descending upon the 'blue carpet'

On Monday, British supermodel Naomi Campbell also revealed she won’t be descending upon the ‘blue carpet’

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz are also among the newly released names of celebrities opting to skip the highly exclusive, annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz are also among the newly released names of celebrities opting to skip the highly exclusive, annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute

On Monday, hours before fashion's big night, which is held annually on the first Monday of May, LeBron James announced he would not be able to attend

On Monday, hours before fashion’s big night, which is held annually on the first Monday of May, LeBron James announced he would not be able to attend

‘I was so honored to be invited to tonight’s big event, but regretfully cannot make it,’ she told her Instagram followers. 

She continued: ‘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.’ 

The fashion industry icon has attended more than a dozen Met Galas since 1990. 

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz are also among the newly released names of celebrities opting to skip the highly exclusive, annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

On Monday, a source revealed to The Sun that Brooklyn had planned on father David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash instead of the Met Gala. 

The couple, however, were noticeably no-shows at David’s London celebration on Saturday, with the reason behind their fallout revealed here by Mail+. 

The Sun reported that Brooklyn felt to uncomfortable to go amid rumors that Nicola was being blamed for a rift with his family. 

‘They cancelled plans to attend the Met because they really intended to be at David’s party on Saturday,’ the insider said. 

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