From Zayn Malik to Tina Fey: celebrities who were banned or would never return to the Met Gala
The annual Met Gala event, renowned for its sparkle and swankiness may not be everyone's preferred event.
The 2023 Met Gala, centered around the fashion designs of Karl Lagerfeld, continues, both celebrities and fans are gearing up for the annual event with anticipation.
While the red carpet looks and the exclusive guest list are certainly a major draw, the gala, like any other event, has had its share of highs and lows.
Several celebrities have openly shared their experiences, shedding light on the less glamorous side of the event.
Below is a compilation of celebrities who attended the Met Gala in the past, but won't be returning, either due to personal choice or because of being banned.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Paltrow, the award-winning actress, and founder of Goop, expressed her dissatisfaction with the Met Gala event in 2013, stating that she would never attend again.
"It was so un-fun. It was boiling.
It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all," she shared with USA Today.
Despite her previous statement, Paltrow made two more appearances at the event in 2017 and 2019, bringing her total Met Gala attendance to seven times.
Zayn Malik
A former member of the popular boy band One Direction, expressed his thoughts on the Met Gala in a 2018 interview with GQ Magazine.
Malik had previously attended the event in 2016.
In the interview, he said, "Now, it's not something I would go to. I'd rather be sitting at my house, doing something productive, than dressing up in really expensive clothes and being photographed on a red carpet ...
To do the self-indulgent 'Look at me, I'm amazing' thing on the red carpet, it's not me."
Amy Schumer
Comedian Amy Schumer made headlines in 2016 after she shared her less-than-favorable experience attending the Met Gala during an interview with Howard Stern.
The Trainwreck star likened the event to punishment and expressed her disinterest in fashion.
"It's people doing an impression of having a conversation. I don't like the farce," she told Stern. "I have no interest in fashion."
Schumer's remarks sparked mixed reactions from the public, with some criticizing her lack of appreciation for the iconic event.
Tina Fey
In a 2010 interview with David Letterman, Tina Fey expressed her views on the Met Gala, sharing a similar sentiment to fellow comedian Amy Schumer.
Fey referred to the event as a "jerk parade."
Tina admitted in a statement that she had brought her husband along to the event, for which she received criticism from him.
Demi Lovato
Demi revealed her not-so-pleasant encounter at the Met Gala during an interview with Billboard in 2018.
The singer described the event as "terrible" and "cliquey," adding that one particular celebrity was difficult to be around.
Lovato, who has a history of addiction, shared that she felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to drink.
The singer expressed feeling more connected with the struggles of the homeless individuals at the meeting rather than the people at the high-profile fashion event.
Tim Gunn
Despite his fame in the fashion world, Project Runway host Tim Gunn has been banned from the Met Gala.
In a 2016 interview with Eonline, he confirmed that he was disinvited from the event due to an incident involving Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor-in-chief and chair of the Met Gala.
Gunn recounted the incident, saying that he once witnessed Wintour being carried down five flights of stairs by two bodyguards after a fashion show.
This caused a rift between the two, and Gunn claimed that he has had an open war with Wintour ever since.