Beyonce, Rihanna, Taraji P. Henson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Selena Gomez were among a number of Met Gala regulars who opted not to attend the 2019 bash on Monday, May 6, in New York City.
Power couples George and Amal Clooney (pictured) and Beyonce and Jay-Z also skipped fashion’s biggest night of the year.
Actress Blake Lively chose to sit out the annual event, but for good reason. The Met was held just days after she revealed that she was expecting her third child with husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
Actress Taraji P. Henson also had an excuse for skipping the Met. She stayed in California to attend the funeral of her friend John Singleton. The legendary director died last week after suffering a massive stroke.
But sources say Rihanna and Beyonce, in particular, stayed home because the Met Gala is no longer the hottest ticket in town. Critics say the Met Gala lost some of its prestige after Vogue‘s Anna Wintour opened the gates to the likes of former adult film star Kim Kardashian and former stripper Cardi B.
The Bronx rapper drew contempt and outrage when she admitted she drugged and robbed her strip club clients.