Despite her highly anticipated attendance at the 2024 MET Gala, a source has revealed to People magazine that Rihanna will skip this year's event.
Rihanna was reported to be staying home with her two children, RZA and Riot, as she was down with the flu.
Many have anticipated Rihanna's arrival at the MET Gala this year after she teased what she's wearing in the past few days.
She told Extra that she'll wear something "real simple" for 2024.
"I'm actually keeping it real simple this year. ... It's gonna come to what my makeup and what my hair is going to do," Rihanna told the outlet. "Very simple-ish ... compared to everything I have done.. I am showing up for dinner."
Other superstars in the music industry have arrived at this year's MET Gala, including Tyla, Suki Waterhouse, Janelle Monáe, Erykah Badu, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, Cynthia Erivo, Doja Cat, Shakira, Lizzo, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and more.
READ MORE: Tyla Doesn't Want to Be Compared to Rihanna: 'Can't Really Be Compared to Anyone'
Fans who find out of the unexpected turn of the events have expressed their frustration at Rihanna's absence at the MET Gala.
"Well we may not have gotten Rihanna, Blake, Katy, Gaga, correctly themed gowns or unique menswear but at least we all had fun complaining about not getting those things. See you next year #MetGala," one said.
"When Rihanna said she was doing a simple look tonight, did she mean not coming?!" another tweeted.
"The way i have been waiting for her to save the night. can we at least see the look like," one pleaded.
met gala is over ??? no rihanna? no blake lively? pic.twitter.com/V4QYYflANg
— 2000s (@PopCulture2000s) May 7, 2024
Rihanna has served stunning looks at the MET Gala. When she co-chaired the event in 2018, she arrived in a Papal-inspired outfit with a matching collared robe by Maison Margiela Artisanal by John Galliano. In 2021, she stunned with an oversized Balenciaga coat dress, partnered with 267 carats of Bulgari jewels.
In 2023, Rihanna honored Karl Lagerfeld's legacy by wearing a custom Valentino Haute Couture silk faille dress decked with 30 giant camellia appliqués made of 500 petals. Still pregnant at the time with Riot, Rihanna unveiled her baby bump, a big redeeming reveal after she and rapper A$AP Rocky arrived fashionably late at the event.
Rihanna was spotted over the weekend in Miami, Florida, where she fully supported her boyfriend's newest venture, the A$AP Rocky X Puma pop-up shop. She had fans excited when she debuted her new bubble gum pink hairstyle.
READ ALSO: 7 of the Best Met Gala Musical Performances: Rare Look at Concerts Inside the Event
