Jess Hardiman
There were a few faces we were disappointed not to see on last night’s Met Gala red carpet, especially given that some are known to bring their A-game.
While we had some strong serves from the likes of Zendaya, Mona Patel, Emma Chamberlain, Jennifer Lopez and Tyla, there were no-shows from some of the names that we’d been excited to see.
That includes Blake Lively, who usually aces the theme each year, and Katy Perry, although she ended up going viral without even being there after someone tricked the internet with an AI image of her in a lavish gown... It did look great, to be fair.
And then there was Rihanna, who fans love to see each time she (eventually) graces that red carpet.
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After realising she hadn’t made it this year, one user tweeted: "The Met Gala can’t be over where’s Rihanna?"
A second exclaimed: "WHERE IS RIHANNA WHEN WE NEED HER!!!"
A third joked: "Bro Rihanna, where are you at? You better don’t be 5 hours late like the last time…"
A fourth added: "Where is Rihanna Queen Of Met Gala?"
Last night, reports began to circulate that RiRi had 'cancelled’ on the star-studded event last minute because she was ill, with People reporting that the Fenty businesswoman was 'sick with the flu'.
Rihanna herself had actually addressed her attendance - or rather, potentially her semi-attendance - already in a recent interview with E! News.
Speaking to the outlet at Fenty Beauty's Soft'Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation launch at the end of April, she said: "I'm coming in as an extra this year.
"I'm coming for dinner."
Does this mean she never even intended to take part in the red carpet?
Even so, when asked about what she planned to wear, the admitted she was going for a much more understated look than what fans were used to.
"Really, like chill," she added of her outfit for the upcoming ball. "I know you think I'm lying - it's chill."
She wouldn’t share what colour she’d be going for, but the mum-of-two – who shares sons RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with partner A$AP Rocky – did offer up an explanation for her simpler look.
"I'm a mom," the star said.
"I don't got time for a lot of s**t."
Tyla has reached out to Rihanna's reps for comment.