Heidi Klum has opened up about the viral Met Gala moment in which Rihanna appeared to be playing with the model’s prosthetic nipples during the 2026 event.
The 53-year-old Project Runway host arrived at this year’s gala wearing a dramatic marble-inspired ensemble that turned her into what looked like a living 19th-century statue.
The creation was put together by prosthetic makeup artist Mike Marino and drew inspiration from Giovanni Strazza’s The Veiled Virgin sculpture. To match the evening’s Costume Art exhibition and Fashion Is Art dress code, the outfit included realistic faux breasts crafted from latex, silicone and foam.
During a clip shared by Bustle, Klum said Rihanna, 38, was especially intrigued by the look throughout the evening and seemed unable to get enough of it.
Klum said she did not actually notice what had happened in the moment and only became aware of it after seeing photographs from the gala the next day.
“I only saw in the photos afterwards that she was playing with my nipples.
“Because they were silicone nipples, they were not my nipples, so it’s not like she was playing with them and I felt anything. “
She explained that the gray contact lenses she was wearing left her with very limited vision, so she had no idea what Rihanna was doing at the time.
“I was like, oh my gosh, look what Rihanna was doing with me.
“She was playing with my nipples the whole time!”
Although her costume became one of the evening’s most talked-about looks, Klum said she had been anxious about whether Anna Wintour would approve. Wintour has chaired or co-chaired the Met Gala since 1995.
Speaking with the New York Times at the event, Klum said: “I asked her if she liked it, and she said yes. I was very worried she wouldn’t like it!”
For much of the night, the intricate prosthetics appeared to stay intact without issue.
On the red carpet, Klum told Vogue that the outfit still allowed her to ‘do anything,’ including sitting and eating.
Later, however, she revealed on TikTok that the design did come with one major drawback: she could not go to the bathroom while wearing it.
Rihanna also turned heads at the gala, making a late entrance with her partner A$AP Rocky. Rihanna wore a custom Maison Margiela gown, while Rocky appeared in custom Chanel. Reports said her dress incorporated recycled metal threads and more than 115,000 crystal beads.
According to Vogue, Rocky completed his tailored pink outfit with Chanel High Jewellery.
The 2026 Met Gala once again attracted a high-profile guest list, with stars embracing the Costume Art exhibition and Fashion Is Art dress code through theatrical, sculptural fashion choices.