There’s a peculiar phenomenon people are calling the ‘Met Gala curse,’ and it’s happened quite a few times.
The Met Gala, an annual fundraising gala for haute couture, is celebrated as fashion’s most significant night of the year since it began in 1948.
Held in New York City, the event aims to raise funds for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. It is also a showcase for extravagant fashion statements and the ‘accessories’ celebrities bring along.
Beyond the fashion, the Met Gala has been a stage for celebrities to introduce their new romantic partners on the famed steps.
Think back to couples like Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen, or Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott, and Elon Musk with Grimes, also made their first public appearances as couples during the event.
However, there’s a lingering rumor about a ‘curse’ affecting those who publicly declare their love at this high-profile event.
Over time, observers have noted that some couples who appear inseparable at the gala often split after their appearance.
Consider Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, who dated for nine months, and Selena Gomez with The Weeknd, whose relationship lasted just a bit longer at ten months.
These aren’t isolated cases, and the pattern is so common that there’s even a dedicated gallery highlighting the supposed curse.
Cosmopolitan magazine has noted that the curse has allegedly impacted numerous celebrity relationships.
The magazine lists several notable examples:
Even with this so-called curse, it’s likely that at least one new celebrity couple will take the plunge this year.
Jane Owen, founder of Jane Owen Public Relations, told Yahoo Entertainment, “The Met Gala is the pinnacle of high society for celebrities. The entire world’s media is captivated by it, utterly, and there’s no bigger way to ‘present yourselves’ as a couple.”
She further stated, “You can’t step onto that red carpet and not get noticed, so you know once it’s done, it’s done, and the whole world knows you are a couple.”
As for the curse, celebrity matchmaker and relationship expert Carmelia Ray mentioned to the news outlet that she believes it is largely ‘coincidental,’ though she acknowledges it could add pressure.
“Relationships don’t break up because of a red carpet appearance; they break up because of what’s happening behind the scenes,” she said. “If a couple is already struggling, the spotlight and scrutiny can add pressure, but it’s rarely the root cause.”
“Celebrity relationships are already under a microscope, and the extra attention post-Met Gala can add fuel to the fire, but it’s not the main reason for a breakup.”