Every year, the first Monday in May becomes a high-fashion fever dream as the Met Gala takes over New York City. It’s where couture meets chaos, celebrities go full avant-garde, and the world collectively waits to see who nails (or fails) the theme. With that kind of fashion legacy, you’d think every A-lister would be scrambling for an invite.
But here’s the kicker: some of the biggest names in Hollywood history have never walked those iconic Met steps. We’re talking legends, global heartthrobs, and actual royals who’ve all given the gala a miss. And honestly? We’re still not over it.
Let’s start with a fashion icon on and off-screen – Meryl Streep. With three Oscars, nine Golden Globes, and more iconic red carpet moments than we can count, you’d expect her to have had a major Met Gala moment by now. She even played a character inspired by Met Gala queen Anna Wintour in The Devil Wears Prada! And get this, Streep was actually announced as a Met co-chair in 2020… but then the pandemic hit, the gala got cancelled, and she’s never been invited back. Still a snub for the books.
Another shocking absence? Ryan Gosling. The man turned the world pink with Barbie, gave us “Ken-ergy,” and has been one of the best-dressed men in Hollywood since the early 2000s. How has he never stepped onto the Met red carpet? If there was ever a year for it, 2023 was it but nope, still no Gosling.
The surprises keep coming. Despite her ethereal presence and cinematic style, Angelina Jolie has never attended either. Maleficent in a Met Gala theme like “Heavenly Bodies”? That was a match made in fashion heaven, but the moment never happened. And neither has one for Jennifer Aniston, even though her effortless cool-girl aesthetic and global fame could’ve given us a masterclass in minimalist chic.
And let’s not forget Brad Pitt. He’s basically red carpet royalty, always suited up with a fresh hairstyle, but he’s never attended the Gala. Even with his besties Clooney and Leo showing up through the years, Brad’s Met Gala RSVP remains pending. Perhaps he’s on a group chat with his exes Aniston and Jolie… politely passing each May.
Britney Spears, the Y2K queen of drama and glitter, is another major no-show. Honestly, it’s criminal that she never turned her iconic tour costumes or VMAs looks into a killer Met moment. Can you imagine her take on “Camp”? Or a rhinestone-studded reinvention of her “Toxic” outfit for “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”? We need that.
Then there’s the royal family. While Princess Diana stunned at the Met in 1996 wearing navy blue Dior, her son Prince William and Kate Middleton have never attended. They’re fashion figures in their own right, with entire Pinterest boards dedicated to Kate’s coat dresses. And yet, no Met. Not even post-royal Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made an appearance. They have worn everything from regal Ralph Lauren to red-carpet-ready Valentino, but never for Anna Wintour’s big night.
Adele is another surprise absentee. She’s been slaying since her 2021 fashion comeback – Balmain, Schiaparelli, custom Louis Vuitton, you name it. Whether she’s in sky-high buns or killer black gowns, Adele owns every look. The Met carpet would be the perfect runway for her dramatic, soulful style. But she’s yet to attend. There’s hope, though. She’s back in the spotlight and bolder than ever, so maybe 2025 will be the year she blesses us.
Even the fashion-forward couples aren’t safe from the no-show list. Tom Holland and Zendaya – yes, Zendaya, who’s had multiple Met slayings on her own – have never walked the Met carpet together. Zendaya’s already cemented her status as a Met Gala MVP, but fans are still dreaming of a Spider-Man and fashion-goddess duo debut.
Also notably absent? The Rock, aka Dwayne Johnson. You’d think the red carpet king and Disney prince would’ve flexed his fashion muscle at least once, but nope. Even as stars like Jared Leto, Lil Nas X, and Pedro Pascal push the menswear envelope on Met night, The Rock stays home.
And in case you forgot, not one cast member from Friends has ever been spotted at the Met Gala. No Jennifer Aniston, no Courteney Cox, no Lisa Kudrow. David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and even the late Matthew Perry? Nada. Hard to believe none of them showed up at the height of their fame or even after, with their nostalgic return to the spotlight.
So yes, while fashion’s elite gathers under the glittering chandeliers of the Met each year, a surprising number of power players still haven’t RSVP’d. Will they show up in 2025? Who knows. But if they do, trust us, we will be watching (and refreshing our feeds) like hawks in haute couture.