Annually, the Met Gala provides celebrities with an open catwalk to show off their most brash, most outrageous fashion impulses—and sometimes, those impulses go awry in a glorious way. While some celebrities exit the Metropolitan Museum steps as style icons, others turn into internet memes. Below are five Met Gala outfits that created a meme frenzy and live rent-free in the hearts of fashion enthusiasts, for better or for worse.
1. Priyanka Chopra’s Camp Catastrophe (2019)
Priyanka Chopra went all in on the 2019 “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme—and then a little further. In a dramatic Dior gown with a feathered cape and towering crown, she was going for theatrical. What she ended up with, though, was exaggerated makeup, vintage-fried curls, and creepy silver bodice that had her resembling more of a high-fashion clown. Social media was merciless, dubbing her “a fashionable clown,” with memes likening her to everything from Mad Hatter to a spooky doll.
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2. Kim Kardashian’s Shadow Self (2021)
In 2021, Kim Kardashian appeared completely clad head-to-toe in all-black Balenciaga, complete with a full face mask and gloves. No expression. No face. Just darkness. It followed the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” but appeared more horror film than high fashion. Memers had a blast referring to her as “a sleep paralysis demon” and making jokes that she’d gotten into the gala by mistake as Kanye West’s literal shadow.
3. Jared Leto as Karl’s Cat (2023)
Jared Leto completely transformed into Karl Lagerfeld’s real cat, Choupette, wearing a white fluffy ensemble complete with cat paws and an removable head. Although some appreciated the dedication to the role, others took him for a Disneyland character. After he removed the head, it was too late—the memes had already crowned him Met Gala’s official mascot.
4. Rihanna’s Golden Blanket (2015)
Rihanna’s regal yellow Guo Pei gown during the “China: Through the Looking Glass” theme was show-stopping, gigantic, and meme gold. With its fur border and football field-sized train, the internet was quick to compare her to an egg yolk, pizza crust, and omelet. Even Rihanna joked that she resembled a walking comforter—but nobody could ignore her presence.
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5. Katy Perry’s Lighting (and Lunch) Moment (2019)
Katy Perry took the house down—and, literally, brought it down—wearing a chandelier gown by Moschino. And if that weren’t enough, she changed into a cheeseburger costume later that evening for the after-party. The memes basically wrote themselves. Some rolled their eyes in embarrassment, while others cheered her dedication to the “camp” aesthetic. Either way, Perry ensured no one else was the star of the show that evening.
As Met Gala 2025 approach, we can’t help but hope that this year will be equally great for both fashion enthusiasts and memers.
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