Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala, AI fooled us

The Met Gala 2024, held on May 6th, was a spectacle of fashion and creativity. The theme, “Sleeping Beauties: The Garden of Time,” inspired the attendees to don stunning outfits. However, what truly caught our attention was the unexpected twist. Despite not being physically present, certain celebrities became the focus of the event. The internet, armed with AI and creative photoshopping, took it upon themselves to envision how stars like Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, and Rihanna would have looked in this year’s theme. Katy Perry was at the centre of the drama, despite not attending the event, posted her AI images on her personal Instagram. This intriguing use of AI in the fashion world sparked a new wave of creativity and discussion.

Related article: 10 Best Looks From The Met Gala 2024

The Katy Perry Drama

The first dress circulated was of Katy Perry, which garnered over 288,000 likes and around 9 million views. She was imagined in a floral gown with a moss trim that perfectly encapsulated the night’s theme. A second image with a different attire also circulated. This time, she donned a corset gown with a key breastplate, a trail of vines and a wet hair look. This collected 94,000 likes and 2 million views. Perry herself liked both of the posts. However, what is truly astonishing and intriguing is that netizens were genuinely convinced that it was really her at the event. Perry also posted that her mom texted her after being fooled by the AI images, highlighting the surprising success of this technology in fooling the public.

Rihanna and Selena Join In or Did They?

Rihanna, too, was brought to the Met Gala without her physical presence. The fashion mogul and singer-songwriter skipped the night’s events, but the internet gave us the dress we were craving. Despite the style not being up to Rihanna’s usual standards, it was a gorgeous mermaid gown with embroidery details that stunned netizens. Similarly, Selena Gomez was reimagined wearing a butterfly-themed gown with blue, green and purple colours. However, this begs the question of how far will the internet go as we have seen malicious usage of AI deepfakes. As it was their choice not to attend the Met Gala, it seems disingenuous to create a fake image of them.

Wanna know more about the Met Gala? Read here: Fashion Explained – The Met Gala

While the Met Gala deepfakes are considered more creative, they serve as a stark warning of the dangers and the path AI is taking. The accuracy beats the uncanny valley effect that most people would be put off by and immediately recognise the images as fake. Distinguishing what’s real from what’s fake should be a certainty for every netizen, a part of media literacy as a whole, but with the way AI is progressing, more misinformation can circulate. AI has been used incorrectly for political advantage. Such as former American President Donald Trump using AI to be photographed with African-American voters. It raises serious concerns about the pace and accuracy of AI and how netizens will cope with this change. Will misinformation spread, or will the internet find ways to discern what’s fake?

10 Best Looks From The Met Gala 2024

The Met Gala is popular for its glamorous looks, and the respected figures that attend the event make it the most prestigious fashion event in the world, as well as “fashion’s biggest night.” It always happens on the 1st Monday of May, and this year, 2024, it happened on the 6th of May. The theme was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, while the general dress code was “Garden of Time.” The motifs revolved around the sea, the sky and the land. That being said, let’s check out who was the best dressed this 2024 at The Met Gala.

Check out our article where we explain The Met Gala in full detail: Fashion Explained – The Met Gala

Zendaya

It’s almost a given that she would be included in this list. She was even the co-chair this time. Blessing us with 2 different looks, Zendaya wore an ocean blue and emerald gown by Maison Margiela’s John Galliano and chose a vintage Givenchy couture for her second look–the spring 1996 collection by John Galliano again. But wait, she also graced us with a secret third look! Once inside the venue, she changed into a white glittery gown with a V neckline, a custom gown by Celia Kritharioti.

Bad Bunny

Another co-chair on this list, the Puerto Rican star brought his best and boldest. Bad Bunny did not kid around with his custom-made Maison Margiela look. It might not be completely on theme, but his mysterious aura added another layer to his style, and that’s why he deserves a spot on the list.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey embraced the vines in Alexander McQueen, marking her return to The Met Gala since her last appearance in 2018. The thorns leading to a beautiful rose perfectly embody her music and theme.

Tyla

On her first-ever Met Gala attendance, Tyla transformed into a real-life sculpture with her sand gown made by Balmain. Other details like the sand trailing on her skin, an hourglass purse, and custom nails matching the theme all made the look one of the best looks of the night. It was also quite the spectacle when someone had to carry her due to the movement restrictions the dress put on her.

Ayo Edebiri

Ayo Edebiri nailed her Met Gala debut with her guipure lace Loewe dress. She bloomed with floral motifs, and her elegant makeup tied it all together. It highlighted her dress in the best way possible.

Alia Bhatt

For her second appearance at The Met Gala, Alia Bhatt wore a gorgeous Sabyasachi saree. The saree had incredible attention to detail, with the 3D flowers bringing the “Garden of Time” theme to life. Bhatt also claims that it took 163 people and approximately 1965 hours to complete the custom piece.

Cynthia Erivo

The singer and actress Cynthia Erivo stunned us with her deconstructed tuxedo covered with pink petals and mini insects. This look was created by Thom Browne. She hid a small nod to her role as Wicked’s Elphaba Thropp. What do you think the hint could be?

Greta Lee

Greta Lee’s first appearance was a smashing success, and her white lace Loewe dress was a hit. She assembled a team of female Asian beauty artists to complete her look–Nina Park on makeup, Jenny Cho for hair, and Naomi Yasuda for nails. This is the year for Greta Lee after her extraordinary performance in Past Lives.

Barry Keoghan

The Internet is obsessed with Barry Keoghan’s Burberry suit, clearly inspired by the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. His stylist, Ilaria Urbinati, leaned further into the “Garden of Time” theme as Keoghan wore 3 Omega watches, including a rare stainless ‘Staybrite’ steel dress pocket watch. It had a whimsical vibe that most looks at The Met Gala lacked.

Stray Kids

Not one person but an entire band! Stray Kids is a popular South Korean pop group, and they just made history as the first Kpop boy group to debut at The Met Gala. The group wore coordinated Tommy Hilfiger suits that, while not necessarily in theme, made them look dapper and handsome on their first Met Gala.

Fashion Explained – The Met Gala

The Met Gala, or The Met Ball, is the annual fundraising gala every fashion enthusiast waits for. The funds are raised towards the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It’s popular for its glamorous looks and the respected figures that attend the event make it the most prestigious fashion event in the world as well as “fashion’s biggest night.” Each year, the event revolves around a specific theme, which sets the tone for the extravagant and avant-garde fashion seen on the red carpet. It happens on the 1st Monday of May.

The Met Gala’s fashion is characterised by extravagance, theatricality, and attention to detail. From intricate embroidery and luxurious fabrics, attendees spare no expense in crafting show-stopping looks that captivate audiences and spark digital conversation. Fashion is not just about looking good; it’s about storytelling and pushing the boundaries of creativity. Attendees draw inspiration from art, history, culture, and current events to create looks that are both visually stunning and rich.

Why is it relevant?

The Met Gala red carpet is also a platform for designers to showcase their talent and creativity on a global stage. Custom-made couture gowns, experimental designs, and innovative techniques are celebrated and critiqued by fashion critics and enthusiasts alike, shaping the narrative of fashion for the year ahead. In addition to the fashion on the red carpet, the Met Gala serves as a networking event for the fashion industry. It’s an opportunity for creative collaboration, trend-spotting, and cultural exchange, solidifying the Met Gala’s status as a pinnacle of fashion excellence.

The Met Gala’s impact extends beyond the confines of the museum walls, shaping trends, influencing pop culture, and inspiring future generations of designers and fashion enthusiasts. From gorgeous moments to controversial looks, the Met Gala continues to push the boundaries of fashion and ignite conversations about art, culture, and identity.

The Best Met Gala Looks Since 2005

Michaela Coel, 2023, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”

The 2023 Met Gala had several absurd looks, from Jared Leto to Lil Nas X, but Michaela Coel did not come to kid around. While not exactly on theme, her custom-made Schiaparelli dress deserves attention.

Blake Lively, 2022, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”

Blake Lively wore a Versace dress, a love letter to New York City. It was inspired by the Statue of Liberty and the extravagant bow unveiled a long blue train.

Zendaya, 2018, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”

Did you also expect Zendaya to appear on this list? This for one list, we highlight the time when Zendaya decked up as a reimagined Joan of Arc, made by Atelier Versace. It nailed the 2018 evening’s theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” as Joan of Arc is a famed icon of Catholicism.

Rihanna, 2017, “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between”

For the 2017 theme, Rihanna wore a Comme Des Garçons’ colourful negentropy of a dress. Rihanna has had many iconic looks before but her 2017 look embodied the theme.

Madonna, 2013, “Punk: Chaos to Couture”

The controversial queen herself, Madonna, wore Givenchy Haute Couture to the 2013 Met Gala.

Carey Mulligan, 2012, “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations”

The co-host of the 2012 Met Gala and British actress, Carey Mulligan, wears Prada.

Naomi Campbell, 2011, “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”

The legendary model and personality, Naomi Campbell, pays tribute to Alexander McQueen.

Blake Lively, 2010, “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”

Blake Lively makes it on the list again! She deserves it with her simple but classy 2010 Met Gala look in a Marchesa dress.

Kate Moss, 2009, “Muse: Embodying Fashion”

Who better to embody the muse than Kate Moss? Moss wore Marc Jacobs at the 2009 Met Gala, bringing back the classic glam look.

Taylor Swift, 2008, “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”

The pop star sensation Taylor Swift was bejewelled on the red carpet with a Badgley Mischka look.

Cate Blancett, 2007, “Poiret: King of Fashion”

Cate Blancett wore Balenciaga and the look was inspired by the works of Paul Poiret.

Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker, 2006, “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion”

The British designer Alexander McQueen fashioned his and Sarah Jessica Parker’s looks. The duo are unforgettable in the history of The Met Gala.

Selma Blair, 2005, “The House of Chanel”

Selma Blair appropriately wore a gorgeous Chanel dress.