Are Real Housewives Banned From the Met Gala? Fashion’s Biggest Night Has Beef With Bravo
The grande first Monday in May event will lack the ‘Real Housewives’ fabulousness we expect from many of its stars.
Published May 6 2024, 5:20 p.m. ET
The Real Housewives franchise has grown into a binge-worthy Bravo favorite, creating millions of fans (including a little-known artist named Rihanna), multiple fan pages, podcasts, and quotes revived on X, formerly Twitter, and TikTok on a weekly basis.
In addition to becoming household names, many Housewives have used their notoriety to create fashion brands, like Sheree Whitfield’s iconic She by Sheree and the newer GnA Apparel by The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby.
And if they’re not building their own fashion empire, few ‘wives have trouble helping other notable fashion designers do so for themselves. Due to their loyalty to luxury, the Real Housewives stars on TV will be tuning in to see the who’s who of fashion’s biggest night, the Met Gala.
Sadly, the Housewives will be watching the annual A-lister from the comfort of their homes and a possible glass of Bluestone Manor Bourbon or Vida Tequila. And it has everything to do with their Bravolebrity status.
Are stars of ‘The Real Housewives’ franchise banned from the Met Gala?
According to USA Today, the Met Gala’s theme for 2024 is Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. Unfortunately, many Real Housewives fashionistas will be sleeping through the event because they did not receive an invite.
Life & Style reported that the Met Gala has a long history of not inviting Real Housewives or reality TV stars. Several wives, like The Real Housewives of New York City stars Jill Zarin and Bethenny Frankel, have reportedly tried to snag tickets to the event to no avail.
While considering the guest list for 2024, the powers at be reportedly decided to continue banning Real Housewives stars from the Met Gala. However, influencers like Addison Rae, Jackie Aina, and several Kardashian-Jenners have graced the Met carpet.
“They are trying to modernize the ball by inviting TikTok stars and social media influencers, but they still won’t allow in any of the Real Housewives,” a source shared with Life & Style. “It’s hilarious to see the women plot and try to get invited and get nowhere. It’s going to kill them to see TikTok stars rubbing shoulders with Zendaya and Bad Bunny while they’re stuck at home watching Bravo reruns!”
Several ‘Real Housewives’ stars have been to the Met Gala before they were ‘Real Housewives’ stars.
Although the Met Gala is seemingly unwilling to let Housewives attend the stylish Monday night event, some were fortunate enough to go before their Housewives fame or after it ended.
As Fashionista discussed in May 2024, several Real Housewives members have attended the Met Gala despite their reputation for being banned. Some of the wives include former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid, who attended the event with her daughter, Gigi Hadid.
Tinsley Mortimer and Kelly Bensimon of RHONY fame have also attended the event as plus-ones. In contrast, Jenna Lyons, who was the executive creative director and retailer for J. Crew before she joined the RHONY reboot in 2023, has frequently attended the Met Gala.
While Jenna left J. Crew in 2017, she likely received another invite for 2024. If that’s the case, it would confirm the rumor that Real Housewives are banned from the Met Gala, which isn’t entirely true.
