After last year's pizza meme-inspiring and showstopping marigold gown, Rihanna has earned the right to sit this one out. According to Vogue Contributing Editor Andre Leon Talley in a post for the daily email newsletter The Skimm, Rihanna won't be attending the 2016 Met Gala. Gasp! Oh no! Wait, why? This is a maaaaaaaj bummer. But don't fret too long or pound your fists against a wall because you may break a nail and there is a bright and blinding light at the end of this bad news tunnel. Despite Rihanna's absence, you still need to tune into the Met Gala via the new Vogue app (and beyond) for one reason and her name is Beyoncé. Bey will be there!
I will pause to allow style watchers, fashion girls, Rihanna Navy diehards, the Beyhive, Beyoncé worshippers, and even casual RiRi or Bey fans to alternately express their disappointment with a chorus of "Boos!" and hisses and their joy with a bunch of happy dances and "Huzzahs!"
While Rihanna is always one of the most anticipated celebs to turn up at the annual Met Gala, she is currently on her ANTI tour and she has a back-to-back shows in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 3, and Wednesday, May 4. However, Bey, who is also a perennial "one to watch" at the Met Gala red carpet because duh, is on her Formation World Tour.
Still, Beyoncé canceled the Nashville date and will indeed be attending the 2016 Met Gala, the theme of which is Manux x Machina, according to Talley's interview. The Met Gala and the axing of the Nashville Formation date may have nothing to do with one another, mind you.
But back to the matter at hand and that's Rih's absence and Bey's attendance. Here is what Talley said when asked about his Met Gala memories: "Unfortunately the person I most wanted to see is not coming because she’s on tour. It's Rihanna....But I do look forward to Beyoncé."
Here is the screen grab of the newsletter. Can I get a "Beyonc-yay!"
Perhaps, and this is a wish/hope/pray scenario, Rihanna will make a mad dash across the country and turn up! Fire up those private jets, no? Maybe Talley is throwing us off the scent? Nah, that would be cruel.
Anticipating what Bey will wear and ultimately gawking over it will certainly heal the fashion wound inflicted by a lack of Rihanna at the 2016 Met Gala.