Blue Ivy rejects Jay-Z’s demand after fans point out major Met Gala rule break
Celebrities around the world attended the annual Met Gala on Monday (4 May) and dressed for the nines to show off their interpretation of this year's theme: Costume Art.
One of the biggest headturners of the evening was no doubt Beyoncé, whose much-welcomed appearance marked her first in a whopping 10 years.
She was joined by her 14-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, who stunned in a white Balenciaga puffball dress and sunglasses, as well as her husband, Jay Z.
"It feels surreal, because my daughter's here..." Beyoncé said on the carpet. "She looks so beautiful. It's incredible to be able to share it with her. And I think she looks so incredible."
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One clip from the night saw paparazzi as well as Jay Z himself attempt to get the teen to remove her shades, something Blue was not budging on.
After clocking the footage, fans rushed to social media to share their reactions, with one X user writing: "Blue Ivy refused to take off her sunglasses at the #MetGala, and we gotta respect it."
"I didn't like the harassment of forcing her to remove the shades. If she wanted to, she would," defended a second.
A third chimed in: "I don't blame her. It was part of the look."
"Love it. She wasn’t having it lol," praised a fourth, as a fifth piped up: "Her dad is so tickled because she just didn't want to remove it even after he asked."
Another gushed: "Absolutely, I love to see young ones having autonomy. Not allowing adults to demand that they do something they’re not comfortable with. That’s a sign of a well-adjusted human being, and I celebrate it and support it always!"
And a final X user echoed: "She knows what she wants."
It wasn't just Blue's shades that got people talking, as many fans were left confused over what they reckoned was a major Met Gala rule break.
"Thought you had to be 18 to attend?" one asked on X.
Someone else commented: "Not them breaking the 18+ rule for BLUE IVY."
A third wrote: "Yk how huge it is that they let Blue Ivy come to the Met, considering no one under 18 is allowed."
The Met Gala's over 18s rule
The no under-18s rule was implemented in 2018, with that year's theme being 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination'.
A Met Gala spokesperson later confirmed the age restriction was introduced as 'it's not an appropriate event for people under 18'.
After being shocked to see Blue Ivy, one fan wondered if 'they make exceptions'.
Indeed, E! reports that it’s 'likely' an exception was made for this year because Beyoncé was co-chairing the bash.
It was a similar occurrence for fellow co-chair Nicole Kidman, whose 17-year-old daughter, Sunday Rose, broke the rules and also made an appearance at the Met Gala.
Strict rules all celebrities must follow at the Met Gala
No selfies allowed
Paps might go wild on the Met Gala red carpet, capturing all the celebs on fashion's biggest night out, but some guests will be pained by the fact that they can't take their own photos, because selfies are strictly banned.
Anna Wintour issued the selfie ban back in 2015 in the hopes of keeping the inner workings of the Met Gala behind lock and key.
However, some rebellious few have flouted the rule over the years, as there's always one who sneaks a phone to the toilet for a cheeky bathroom selfie, which later pops up on social media.
Certain foods are banned
There are certain foods that are banned from the event, and not for any real rhyme or reason other than the way they could pose a red carpet disaster.
Things like chives could be dangerous if they get stuck in anyone's teeth before photos. Onion and garlic are also banned in order to prevent bad breath, and other dishes which could easily spill onto dresses.
Wintour has addressed the rumours that the likes of onion, chives and garlic are banned from the event, telling Today host Jenna Bush Hager in 2024: "Well, those are three things I'm not particularly fond of, and so yes, that's true."
Strict seating plan
If you're stuck next to your arch-nemesis at the Met Gala, tough. Because you aren't allowed to move seats.
Seating arrangements are strictly maintained, with a lot of 'power-brokering' in the planning beforehand.
"A lot of thought goes into who sits next to who, if they sat together last year, if they've sat next to each other at other events, so much goes into it, it's shocking," Sylvana Ward Durrett, former director of special projects at Vogue, said in the 2016 documentary The First Monday in May.
Cheeky cigarette? Absolutely not
No smoking is allowed at the glitzy fashion event, a rule which was reportedly recirculated after the likes of Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, and Marc Jacobs were pictured smoking in the bathrooms in 2017.
Met Gala guests the following year were reminded that it's 'illegal to smoke in the museum'.
It should be noted that smoking indoors in New York City has been banned since 2003, and prior invitations to the event have reiterated this.
Rhiannon Ingle