By now, the whole world knows that Rihanna loves to arrive fashionably late to the Met Gala. Back in 2021, she made her debut at damn near 10:00 p.m., and then in 2023 she did it all again. A fashionably late arrival is kind of her thing! So, when the seconds kept ticking on Monday night and the clock kept moving later, and later, and later, we figured we’d eventually see her…
But we didn’t get to watch her arrive this time around!! She wasn’t there at all! Neither RiRi nor her partner A$AP Rocky showed up at Monday evening’s shindig, which was surprising — because everybody expected her to be around! And now we know why.
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Per a source who spoke to People late on Monday evening, Rihanna had to cancel her attendance at the very last minute as she was sick with the flu. Oh, no! The fashion fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was all ready for the Barbadian beauty to show up and rock the joint, but the sickness was so severe that she had to back off. Sad!!
Here’s where it gets interesting, though: a separate source spoke to Page Six about Rihanna’s Met Gala plans and confirmed that the Fenty Beauty lead actually traveled to NYC after a prior appearance in Miami at the F1 Grand Prix. Her stylist was even spotted at the Carlyle Hotel greeting the singer’s security team, which had reportedly been tasked with bringing her jewels in earlier on Monday! Plus, A$AP Rocky was spotted in Soho on Monday afternoon rocking a tracksuit and headphones while walking around — while all the other A-listers would have been getting ready for the ball!
So, it sounds like both parties were in town for the show. And everything was set up for Rihanna to be there and show out like usual. But this flu she suddenly came down with must have hit hard and took over her body very quickly, because it knocked the 36-year-old out of commission in what sounds like a last minute move. Ugh!
Sending love and light to the momma of two! Hopefully she feels better as soon as possible and can get back to doing what she does. Rest, recover, drink fluids, and she’ll be back up and ready to knock ’em dead in no time. We’re just sad that we won’t get to see the dress that she was planning on wearing to the show!! Reactions, y’all??
[Image via MEGA/WENN]