2004: Donald Trump's proposal to Melania
They're one of the world's most ogled couples in 2018—often for less-than-favourable reasons—but it's a little-known fact that billionaire developer (and future President) Donald Trump proposed to wife Melania Trump (née Knauss) at the 2004 Met Gala.
Donald popped the question to the future FLOTUS with an AU$2.4 million ring by Graff Jewellers on the night of the ball—and the future Mrs. Trump could be seen donning the exorbitant piece on the red carpet.
The couple married just under a year later, where Melania wore a Christian Dior by John Galliano dress that would've suited the Met ball on its own accord.
2015: Beyoncé's last-minute hair change
While Beyoncé looked undoubtedly ethereal at the 2015 gala in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, her voluminous high-pony was definitely not part of the original look; and almost resulted in her missing the gala altogether.
Reportedly, Ms. Carter decided against her original hairstyle en-route to the red carpet, and the now-famous high ponytail was the result of a heated five-minute swapover by her hairstylist Neal Farinah. She and husband Jay-Z were unsurprisingly the final arrival at the gala—but her tardiness was overshadowed by what's now become a historic Met moment.
2017: Bathroom smoking
Yes, even celebutante Met Gala attendees can face condemnation from New York City health authorities.
The 2017 gala saw celebrities flood social media with footage of themselves smoking in the Metropolitan Museum's bathrooms; leading to outrage from New York City health commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. All celebrities involved were served with a legal letter condemning their behaviour, which also threatened the patrolling of future Met Galas by New York City authorities.
Bassett also said, "When young people see glamorous stars smoking and flouting the law, it undermines the progress that has been made in de-normalising smoking and increasing awareness of smoking's health risks."
Images: Instagram & Twitter
2016: Demi Lovato and Nicki Minaj
In a 2018 Billboard profile, Demi Lovato elaborated on her lukewarm experience attending the 2016 gala (pictured in custom Moschino with Nicki Minaj and Jeremy Scott). She outlined the exclusive behaviour of a single celebrity, whom she declined to name; however, people were quick to assume Lovato was talking about Nicki Minaj, who she attended with.
A recovering alcoholic, Lovato said "This one celebrity was a complete b---h and was miserable to be around. It was very cliquey. I remember being so uncomfortable that I wanted to drink."
Later in the interview, Lovato said she attended an AA meeting after the gala, and that she "related more to the homeless people in that meeting who struggled with the same struggles that I deal with than the people at the Met Gala—fake and sucking the fashion industry's d--k."
2014: Solange and Jay-Z
The drama between Beyoncé's sister Solange Knowles and Jay-Z on the night of the 2014 Met Gala spread around the globe immediately, and instantly became tabloid fodder for a plethora of cheating rumours.
Days after the 2014 ball, security footage was obtained by TMZ showing Solange physically attack Jay-Z in an elevator with his wife Beyoncé, and a member of security trying to bring a halt to the confrontation.
While Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Solange have been hesitant to discuss what actually caused the mysterious fight, Beyoncé finally addressed rumours of her husband's infidelity on her 2016 album Lemonade—leading many to believe Jay-Z's cheating was what provoked the elevator scuffle. But, like much of the Knowles-Carter family's lives, the true specifics are anyone's guess.
Every Year: Tim Gunn
Project Runway host and ex-Parsons chair Tim Gunn has long been vocal about his disdain for the Met Gala as a whole; and especially for event chair Anna Wintour. Gunn cited an experience where he was uninvited from the gala because he recounted an occasion he saw Wintour be carried down two flights of stairs by her security guards.
Since then, Gunn has been especially dismissive of Wintour's public persona; even calling her a "history revisionist".
"In her mind it never happened, basically."
