Fashion

The 22 Most Controversial Met Gala Looks of All Time

From Princess Diana's Dior slip dress to Kim Kardashian's wet dress, the most controversial Met Gala looks of all time spark upset for many reasons.

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The annual fervor for the Met Gala is more akin to that of a sporting event than other red carpets. The world declares the gala’s winners and losers seconds after a star approaches the steps. Years of lore influences public commentary and creates gala legends. Some stars leave us with outfit to talk about for ages to come, including with controversial looks.

The specifics of a controversy are rooted in the context of the time. Rihanna, for example, has one of the most memorable Met Gala looks ever in her 2012 Guo Pei cape gown, which boasted a 16-train. Among animal right activists, however, this was a big faux pas as they criticized her use of fur. For other controversial dresses, it might be more relevant to the star themself. Kim Kardashian's 2019 Mugler gown, with a barely-there waist, became problematic for promoting potentially unhealthy dieting, as the reality star was vocal about her intense eating habits leading up to the fitting.

Since its inception in 1948, the Met Gala has ballooned from a quaint fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute into a world-famous extravaganza. While Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour cemented the gala’s cultural relevance when she assumed her role as co-chair in 1995, the recent dominance of social media created a global amphitheater for designers and celebrities to showcase the latest in haute couture.

Keep scrolling to see the most controversial Met Gala looks of all time, ranging from Kardashian's nude-hued Mugler gown to Princess Diana's slip dress by Dior.

Madonna wearing a Givenchy black gown at the 2016 Met Gala.
Madonna wearing Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci in 2016, controversial due to the pop star's chest and behind being visible through the gown's sheer lace. Getty Images.
Rihanna wearing a silver Maison Margiela dress, coat, and papal mitre at the 2018 Met Gala.
Rihanna wearing Maison Margiela by John Galliano in 2018, criticized by some Catholic commentators for religious appropriation. Getty Images.
Kim Kardashian in a nude-colored fitted dress at the 2019 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian wearing Thierry Mugler in 2019, controversial due to Kardashian's heavily-cinched corset and the restrictive diet she underwent to fit into the dress. Getty Images.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a white gown with "Tax the Rich" written in red text along the back at the 2021 Met Gala.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wearing Brother Vellies in 2021, controversial due to the 'Tax the Rich' text on the gown. The U.S. House of Ethics later investigated the congresswoman for accepting "impermissible gifts" associated with the gala. Getty Images.
Liv Tyler (left) in a black maxi skirt and Stella McCartney (right) in beige low-rise trousers at the 1999 Met Gala; the two are wearing matching one-shouler tank tops with the text "Rock Royalty."
Liv Tyler wearing a screenprinted tank and a Comme de Garçon skirt and Stella McCartney wearing a screenprinted tank and Chloé trousers in 1999. The look was considered casual compared to typical attire at the gala. In an interview for Vogue, McCartney explained that she had the tanks customized the morning of the event. Getty Images.
Rihanna in a yellow gown with fur detailing at the 2012 Met Gala.
Rihanna wearing Guo Pei in 2012, controversial among animal rights activists at the time for its use of fur. Getty Images.
Miley Cyrus in a black mesh gown with a nude slip dress underneath at the 2013 Met Gala.
Miley Cyrus wearing Marc Jacobs in 2013, controversial due to Cyrus's spiky haircut—a departure from the former child star's usual look. Getty Images.
Harry Styles wearing a black blouse and black pants at the 2019 Met Gala.
Harry Styles wearing Gucci in 2019, controversial due to the feminine appearance of his blouse and pearl earring. Getty Images.
Frank Ocean holds a green robot baby while wearing a Prada coat and black trousers with a hat that says "Dreamcore" at the 2021 Met Gala.
Frank Ocean wearing Prada in 2021, confusing many with the green robot baby he held while walking the carpet. Getty Images.
Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a red headdress and a black dress with red floral details at the 2015 Met Gala.
Sarah Jessica Parker wearing H&M in 2015, controversial due to the actress' headdress, which many considered cultural appropriation. Getty Images.
Princess Diana wearing a navy slip dress at the 1996 Met Gala.
Princess Diana of Wales wearing Dior in 1999, controversial yet beloved for the dress's lingerie-like appearance. According to designer John Galliano, Diana ripped the corset out the dress before arriving at the gala. Getty Images.
Kim Kardashian, pregnant, wears a floral print dress with matching gloves and heels at the 2013 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian wearing Givenchy in 2013, which some compared to the dress Robin Williams wore as Mrs. Doubtfire in the 1993 film (including Williams himself). Getty Images.
Cher and Bob Mackie at the 1974 Met Gala. Cher is wearing a sheer, shimmery dress with feathered sleeves and hemline.
Cher wearing Bob Mackie in 1974, controversial due to the gown's revealing sheer fabric. Despite the backlash, Cher later wore the dress on the cover of Vogue. Getty Images.
Addison Rae wearing a red dress to the 2021 Met Gala.
Addison Rae wearing Tom Ford for Gucci in 2021; the TikTok-star-turned-singer's presence at the gala was more controversial than the dress itself. Many online were perplexed by Anna Wintour inviting Rae and other social media influencers. Getty Images.
Jared Leto wearing a full-body white cat suit, arms outstretched, at the 2023 Met Gala.
Jared Leto wearing a cat costume designed by production studio SCPS in 2023; for the Karl Lagerfeld-themed gala in 2023, the actor dressed up as the late designer's cat Choupette. Onlookers were not aware that Leto was in the cat suit until he removed the head. Getty Images.
Cara Delevigne wearing a white pants and a sleeveless top with red text "Peg the Patriarchy" at the 2021 Met Gala.
Cara Delevigne in Dior in 2021, controversial due to the sexually provocative political messaging on her vest. Luna Matatas, sex educator and owner of the 'Peg the Patriarchy' trademark, called out Delevigne and Dior for not giving her credit for the phrase. Getty Images.
Katy Perry wearing a chandelier dress and hat at the 2019 Met Gala.
Katy Perry wearing a burger costume to the Met Gala after party.
Katy Perry wearing Moschino by Jeremy Scott in 2019; Tom Ford shaded Perry's gala and after-party looks, saying, "[The Met Gala] used to just be very chic people wearing very beautiful clothes going to an exhibition about the 18th century. ... You didn't have to dress like a hamburger. You didn't have to arrive in a van where you were standing up because you couldn't sit down because you wore a chandelier." Getty Images.
Kim Kardashian wearing a black gress covering her face and body at the 2021 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian wearing Balenciaga in 2021, which covered her face and body in black fabric. Anna Wintour did not recognize the reality star at first. Getty Images.
Timothee Chalamet wearing a white suit blazer with white sweatpants and sneakers at the 2021 Met Gala.
Timothee Chalamet in Haider Ackermann and Converse in 2021, controversial as some thought the co-chair's sweatpants and sneakers were too casual for the gala. Getty Images.
Naomi Campbell wearing a top with "Like a Virgin" printed in white text and a black lace skirt standing next to Iman, who is wearing a black dress with a white fur coat. 2001 Met Gala.
Naomi Campbell and Iman in Dolce & Gabbana in 2001, controversial for Campbell's rocker-chic apparel, contrasting the Jackie Kennedy theme of the night. Getty Images.
Lil' Kim wearing a pink two-piece bralette and shorts with a long pink fur coat and pink snakeskin boots at the 1999 Met Gala.
Lil Kim wearing Versace in 1999, controversial due to the rapper's exposed midriff. Getty Images.
Kim Kardashian wearing a nude, rhinestoned dress with a white fur coat and Pete Davidson in a black suit and sunglasses at the 2022 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian wearing Norman Norell in 2022, originally worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962. Kardashian faced backlash for damaging the dress. Getty Images.

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