British supermodel Naomi Campbell, who has graced the Met Gala’s red carpet for years, has reportedly been blocked from attending the 2025 event following public tension with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
The 54-year-old model, a regular at the fashion world’s most prestigious event, was notably absent from this year’s invite list.
The 2024 Met Gala’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, pays tribute to the influence and artistry of Black fashion, with co-chairs including Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams.
Despite attending the Met Gala 17 times, Campbell’s exclusion comes after what some sources describe as a fallout with Wintour, who has overseen the event since 1995. The tension between the two reportedly began at a 2023 New York Fashion Week ceremony for Harlem’s Fashion Row, where Wintour publicly commented on Campbell’s late arrival.
“I am a very punctual person, and I have the honour of presenting tonight to someone who is often late,” Wintour remarked, referencing Campbell’s ongoing struggles with punctuality. After waiting for Campbell to arrive, Wintour left the event, and Harper’s Bazaar editor Samira Nasr stepped in to present the Fashion Icon Award.
When Campbell later accepted the award, she made a pointed remark: “It wasn’t my choice to have the other lady; I’d much rather have this one.” Her comment reportedly shocked the crowd.
Now, sources suggest that this public exchange may have cost Campbell her invite to the 2025 Met Gala. A source told The Sun, “Naomi shot herself in the stiletto with that comment. You don’t throw shade at the queen of fashion and still expect to walk her red carpet.”
The source continued, “Anna doesn’t forget – or forgive. It’s no coincidence. If Anna wants you out, you’re out. Simple as that.” The model’s absence has not gone unnoticed in the fashion community, with insiders whispering that Wintour is using the situation to reinforce her authority within the industry.
Campbell has not directly commented on her reported exclusion, but did reveal last week that she feels “too old” to attend the Met Gala again. Speaking in a YouTube video, she said, “It is my last. I can’t… I’m too old. It’s too much for me.”
Naomi Campbell made history in 1989 as the first black woman to appear on the cover of Vogue. Her first Met Gala appearance came in 1990, and she quickly became a fixture on its red carpet.
Despite her legendary status, Campbell’s relationship with the Met Gala has not been without controversy. Last year, she addressed the event’s theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening, and admitted that she doesn’t always follow the dress code.
“I don’t follow themes, sorry. I just flow,” Campbell explained while getting ready for the event. “I think it’s something to do with Sleeping Beauty, awakening something. I’m sorry.”
As the fashion world continues to discuss her absence, the question remains: was Naomi Campbell’s exclusion due to her personal choice, or is this the result of a deeper rift with Anna Wintour?
