Naomi Campbell Bows Out of the 2025 Met Gala
Naomi Campbell has been a fixture on the Met Gala’s star-studded red carpet for decades. So when she took to Instagram to confirm she’d be skipping the 2025 event, fans and the fashion world took notice. Campbell, now in her 50s, wrote openly about reaching her limit with high-profile events, saying she’d decided last year that her 20th or 21st Met would be her last. The relentless fuss, social anxiety, and the toll of hours-long red carpets have pushed her to pump the brakes on another appearance—even though she was invited again this year.
This move isn’t just a shock because of the sheer consistency of her presence at the fashion event. Campbell’s decision comes at a time when the 2025 Met Gala is set to honor Black dandyism, a nod to Black designers, cultural tastemakers, and the nuanced ways Black style has shaped global fashion. The theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” is deeply personal to Campbell, who grew up under the influence of bold Black icons breaking barriers in fashion and identity. In her post, she praised the creative scope of this year’s concept and made it clear she’d miss not just the event, but the specific cultural celebration it represented.
Addressing Anna Wintour and Persistent Rumors
Of course, nobody talks Met Gala for long before Anna Wintour enters the conversation. The Vogue editor-in-chief has famously shaped the event into what it is today. Despite wild rumors, Campbell used her statement to shower Wintour with praise, calling her “brilliant” and congratulating her on a standout appearance in a Louis Vuitton floral gown. Still, the rumor mill isn’t stopping. After all, Campbell’s offhand comment at her swansong 2024 Met—where she hinted discomfort with another guest (“It wasn’t my choice to have the other lady, I’d much rather have this one”)—sparked a wave of speculation. Was she referring to Wintour? Critics and fans started dissecting every word, some suggesting these were signs of unspoken beef between the two fashion powerhouses.
Then there’s her late friend—and industry legend—André Leon Talley. Campbell went out of her way to dedicate her absence to Talley, the beloved former Vogue creative director, hinting that his passing was a key reason behind her decision to skip the star-studded affair. Calling out Talley’s impact and legacy gave the move extra gravity. She also admitted to missing David Beckham’s birthday bash, a detail that only made Social Media detectives feed further into the drama: was she avoiding high-profile events, or was there more going on behind the scenes?
Campbell’s honesty isn’t quelling curiosity. Outlets like Grazia UK have run with the idea that she’s been “blacklisted.” But from her own words, it sounds less like a scandal and more about boundaries and personal legacy. She’s leaving the Met Gala stage not with a bang, but with gratitude, reflection, and a nod to her friends and the cultures that shaped her. Still, in a world where famous faces can never move in silence, the Met Gala carpet might feel a little emptier next year.
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