The 4 Biggest Controversies in Met Gala History
The 4 Biggest Controversies in Met Gala History
Alyssa ModosMon, May 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC
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Kim Kardashian in 2022 ; Vitalii Sediuk in 2014Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty; Michael Stewart/WireImage
The Met Gala is known for cutting-edge fashion — but sometimes, the focus shifts from the glitz and glamour to unexpected controversial moments.
From a streaker crashing the event to celebrities participating in illegal activities on the Metropolitan Museum of Art premises, there have been numerous controversies at the star-studded gala over the years.
In 2014, Jay-Z and Solange Knowles fought in an elevator after the Met Gala, which has since become one of the most talked-about pop culture moments in history (and inspired multiple song lyrics).
Most recently, Kim Kardashian donned the original Jean Louis gown worn by Marilyn Monroe during her iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" performance to President John F. Kennedy in 1962. After side-by-side photos circulated on social media, many speculated that Kardashian had permanently damaged the gown — which both the reality star and the museum which lent it to her have denied.
Here's everything to know about the biggest Met Gala controversies in history.
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Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe’s gown
Kim Kardashian ; Marilyn Monroe's dress after wear.Credit: Gotham/Getty; Courtesy The Marilyn Monroe Collection
At the 2022 Met Gala, Kardashian's attire sparked one of the most polarizing controversies in the event's history.
The SKIMS founder arrived in the original Jean Louis gown worn by Monroe during her iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" performance in 1962. The dress was lent to her by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which purchased the dress from Julien's Auction in November 2016 for $4.81 million.
Kardashian faced significant backlash for revealing she had to lose a significant amount of weight to fit into the garment.
"I tried it on and it didn't fit me. I said, 'Give me three weeks.' I had to lose 16 pounds down today," Kardashian told Vogue correspondent La La Anthony on the red carpet.
The public became even more outraged when side-by-side photos circulated on social media, leading many to speculate that Kim had permanently damaged the fragile silk soufflé fabric.
However, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! released a statement denying any damage. Kardashian later denied harming the garment in a November 2025 Vanity Fair lie detector video with her All's Fair costar Teyana Taylor.
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Solange and Jay-Z’s elevator fight
Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Solange Knowles leaving the Met Gala After Party at the Boom Boom Room in the Meatpacking district.Credit: SplashNews.com
The 2014 Met Gala remains etched in pop culture history — not just for the red carpet fashion, but for the dramatic footage of Jay-Z and Solange fighting in The Standard hotel elevator following an afterparty at the Boom Boom Room in New York City.
Leaked security video footage showed Solange in an intense physical altercation with her brother-in-law while his wife, Beyoncé, looked on. The clips immediately went viral, sparking global speculation about what could have prompted such a violent altercation between the family members.
A source later told PEOPLE that Solange had been “provoked” by fashion designer Rachel Roy, with whom she had spoken to earlier that evening.
"Toward the end of the night, Jay said something inappropriate to Beyoncé and Solange, and [Solange] snapped," the insider said. "When they got in the elevator, it escalated quickly the way family tensions can. It got exceptionally heated the way family moments can."
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In the wake of the footage going viral, the trio released a rare joint statement to the to address the "unfortunate incident," emphasizing that they had worked through the matter privately. "Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred," the family stated, adding that they had "apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."
They were also quick to shut down rumors regarding Solange's state of mind, noting, "The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false."
In the years since, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have spoken about the fight, the former most famously doing so on her 2016 Lemonade album.
She nodded to the drama in her "Flawless" remix, singing, "Of course sometimes s--- go down when it’s a billion dollars on an elevator."
Meanwhile, Jay-Z shed light on his and Solange’s relationship in a 2017 interview with Rap Radar hosts Elliott Wilson and Brian "B.Dot" Miller.
"We had one disagreement ever. Before and after we’ve been cool,” he said. “She’s like my sister ... I will protect her. That’s my sister, not my sister-in-law."
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Streaker crashing the red carpet
Ukrainian journalist Vitalii Sediuk attempts to crash the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014 in New York City.Credit: Michael Stewart/WireImage
The 2014 Met Gala also began with a bizarre security breach on the red carpet.
Vitalii Sediuk, an infamous serial prankster known for targeting major celebrity events, attempted to crash the gala wearing nothing but a pink mankini and a gold chain. The streaker managed to dodge several security guards, darting onto the iconic steps before being tackled and escorted off the premises.
Despite the brief chaos he caused on the red carpet, the event proceeded without further disruption. The moment was caught on camera by dozens of confused photographers, quickly becoming a viral moment.
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Celebs illegally smoking cigarettes in the bathroom
Courtney Love, Marc Jacobs, Frances Bean Cobain and guest smoking at the Met Gala.Credit: Marc Jacobs/Instagram
At the 2017 Met Gala, a group of A-list stars turned a Metropolitan Museum of Art bathroom into an impromptu smoking lounge — and the moment was publicly criticized.
Celebrities posted photos from the bathroom smoke session, with Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson and Marc Jacobs among those seen lounging on the floor and lighting up cigarettes.
The behavior quickly drew the ire of museum donors and board members for their disregard for the museum’s strict non-smoking policy and the potential risk the smoke posed to the priceless art collections, per Page Six. Additionally, the New York City Department of Health issued a reminder that smoking indoors is a violation of the city's Smoke-Free Air Act, which carries fines for both smokers and venues.
“This spectacular event awes us all,” Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett wrote in a letter to the museum’s senior vice president, per Business Insider. “We were dismayed to read reports that some celebrities chose smoking as their fashion accessory and flagrantly violated New York City’s smoking laws.”
The museum responded to the letter acknowledging the violation “by a small number of guests” and said it will “take steps to ensure this does not happen again.”
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
