Why Rihanna suddenly cancelled her appearance at the 2024 Met Gala

If you've woken up desperately hoping to see Rihanna's outfit from the 2024 Met Gala, unfortunately you'll be disappointed. Despite planning to attend the event (she’s usually last to arrive/shuts down the carpet), People reports that Rihanna had to cancel due to being sick with the flu. Huge bummer, so here’s to hoping she feels better soon!

Rihanna previously teased her Met Gala look during an interview with Extra, saying, “I’m actually just keeping it real simple this year...Very simple...I think it’s gonna come to what my makeup and what my hair is going to do. We wanna play with that, but I have no idea what I’m gonna do with that.”

Turns out, Rihanna was deciding between two dresses, telling Extra they were “very simple-ish...compared to everything I’ve ever done. I’m showing up for dinner! Shout-out to Anna Wintour.”

Rihanna at the 2017 Met Gala

She said pretty much the same thing to E! News, joking, “I’m coming in as an extra this year. I’m coming for dinner. It’ll be chill.” Oh, and when asked why she was leaning into simple this year, she said, “Because I’m a mum. I got shit.”

More broadly, Rihanna has been reflecting publicly on her evolving sense of style. While talking with Vogue last month, she said, “I’ve done so much shit in my life. I’ve had my nipples out, my panties out. But now, those are the things which, I guess as a mom and an evolved young lady—emphasis on young—there are things I feel like I would never do,” Rihanna said. “Like, ‘Oh my god, I really did that? Nips out?’”

Rihanna at the 2023 Met Gala

She did and it was iconic, case closed! Wish you were here, Riri!

Mehera Bonner

Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.