Real reason Naomi Campbell won’t be at Met Gala after ‘ban’ claim
She's been a mainstay at the event since first attending in 1990.
The real reason why Naomi Campbell won’t be attending the Met Gala tonight has been revealed after it was falsely claimed she’d been ‘banned’ by Anna Wintour.
The British model, 54, has been a mainstay at the fashion industry’s night of nights, which is held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The theme of this year’s event is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, honouring the artistry and cultural influence of Black fashion.
On hand assisting Anna, 75, are her co-chairs Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams.
However, after attending the event 17 times, Naomi won’t be attending the 2025 event.
It comes after she reportedly sparked a ‘feud’ with Anna, who has chaired the event since 1995.
The supermodel took aim at the event’s chair Anna Wintour in public last year (Picture: Jamie McCarthy/ Getty Images) It came after Anna called out the supermodel’s punctuality (Picture: Fairchild Archive/ Penske Media via Getty Images)Last year the pair traded barbs at a New York Fashion Week ceremony for Harlem’s Fashion Row.
Speaking on stage, Anna took aim at Naomi’s notorious struggles with lateness.
‘I am a very punctual person, and I have the honour of presenting tonight to someone who is often late,’ she told the audience.
After getting tired of waiting to hand out the award to Naomi, Anna eventually left, with Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Samira Nasr asked to present with the Fashion Icon Award instead.
When accepting the award, Naomi quipped: ‘It wasn’t my choice to have the other lady, I’d much rather have this one.’
Reports at the time said she sparked gasps from the crowd.
Anna ‘doesn’t forget or forgive’ (Picture: David Fisher/ Rex/ Shutterstock)It had earlier been reported that Naomi had been ‘banned’ from the event, with a source claiming her ‘absence from the list hasn’t gone unnoticed’.
However Metro understands that while Naomi was indeed invited, she made the decision not to go.
Last week Naomi also she said she felt ‘too old’ to attend the event again.
Speaking in a YouTube video, she said of the 2024 gala: ‘It is my last. I can’t…I’m too old. It’s too much for me, the anxiety.’
Naomi first appeared on the cover of Vogue in 1989, making history as the first black woman to do so.
Naomi has attended fashion’s night of nights 17 times since 1990 (Picture: David Fisher/ Rex/ Shutterstock)Since then, she’s featured on the cover a further 65 times under Anna.
The supermodel first attended the Met Gala in 1990 and went on to become a regular on its red carpet over the years.
Last week she spoke about the Met Gala’s theme and how she didn’t usually make an effort to stick to the dress code.
‘I don’t follow themes, sorry. I just flow. I think it’s something to do with Sleeping Beauty, awakening something. I’m sorry,’ she said while being shown getting ready for last year’s event – which had the theme Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening.
Metro has contacted representatives for Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour for comment.
• An earlier version of this article reported claims first made in The Sun Cambell had been ‘banned’ from attending the Met Gala. It is now understood that while she was issued an invitation, she decided not to go this year.
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