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fashion's most feared

Celebs banned from the Met Gala: Who allegedly made Anna Wintour's blocklist

While most stars would trade their Louboutins for a seat at the gala, a few celebs have managed to do the unthinkable


Senior Writer
MAY 5, 2025 6:26 PM EDT

Being invited to the Met Gala is like getting drafted into fashion's version of the "Avengers," only with more sequins and stricter entrance policies. It's the one night a year where fashion, fame, and flair collide in the most dramatic way possible, and you better believe Anna Wintour is watching everyone from behind those signature sunglasses.

While most stars would trade their Louboutins for a seat at the gala, a few celebs have managed to do the unthinkable: get themselves banned. We're talking about being excommunicated from couture.

 Anna Wintour, Met Gala Chair, attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.  (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)© Getty Images
Anna Wintour, Met Gala Chair, attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

So who allegedly landed on fashion's most feared denylist, and how did they mess up? Let's dive into the drama.

Demi Lovato

© Sara Jaye
Demi Lovato poses for a portrait at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

Please leave it to Demi Lovato to drop truth bombs at a fashion fantasy camp. After attending the 2016 Met Gala, Demi gave a brutally honest review in an interview with Billboard, calling the event "awful" and "cliquey." 

Donald Trump

© JIM WATSON
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the Liberty inaugural ball

Donald Trump actually used to attend the Met Gala regularly back in the day (with a very different kind of red carpet energy). But when Vogue's Wintour was asked during a segment of "The Late Late Show" who she would never invite back, she didn't blink: "Donald Trump."

Zayn Malik

When Zayn Malik strolled into the 2016 Met Gala with Gigi Hadid in tow and a metallic arm suit worthy of a Marvel reboot, he looked like he belonged. But afterward? Not so much.

Zayn later described the gala as "self-indulgent" and "not me," basically saying it was all surface, no substance. 

© Pascal Le Segretain
Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid attend the Givenchy show as part of the Paris Fashion Week

Wintour didn't publicly respond, but Zayn's absence from every Met Gala since speaks volumes. If you throw shade on the sacred carpet, don't expect a sequel.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Queen of clean living and unfiltered opinions, Gwyneth Paltrow gave the Met Gala a hard pass after 2013, calling it "so un-fun" and "too crowded." She even said she was "never going again." She returned in 2017. And again in 2019.

© Daniele Venturelli
Gwyneth Paltrow attends the Swarovski "Masters of Light - From Vienna to Milan" exhibition

Whether Anna gave her a temporary time-out or Gwyneth simply Gooped her way back into good graces, it's clear that while her candid critique didn't get her permanently banned, it definitely didn't score her points. 

Met Gala Royalty: Rihanna, Anna Wintour's Eternal Favorite

While some celebrities have found themselves on Anna Wintour's no-fly list, there's one star who not only remains in her good graces but is arguably her favorite guest of all time: Rihanna.

© GettyImages
One of her favorite looks is Rihanna's in 2015

Rihanna's Met Gala history is a masterclass in fashion evolution. From her debut in 2007 wearing a white Georges Chakra gown to her unforgettable 2015 appearance in a yellow Guo Pei cape that became an instant meme, she consistently delivers show-stopping looks. 

Her 2018 papal-inspired ensemble by Maison Margiela for the "Heavenly Bodies" theme further cemented her status as a Met Gala icon.

Rihanna's close relationship with Anna Wintour and her consistent ability to capture the essence of each Met Gala theme make her a perennial favorite. While others may find themselves excluded for various reasons, Rihanna's presence is not just welcomed; it's anticipated.

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