Did Rihanna really get the Kardashians banned from the Met Gala? The gossip mill is in overdrive, and if this is true, it’s just another reminder not to mess with Rihanna.
The rumor is that Rihanna used her influence to bar the entire Kardashian-Jenner clan from fashion’s biggest night, with Kendall Jenner being the main target. Their alleged feud isn’t new—remember when Kendall tweeted about wanting Rihanna to perform “Complicated” at a concert? Rihanna’s icy response? “Well, don’t come.” Classic Rihanna, shutting things down without missing a beat.
Unlike other celebs who rely on their fans to fight battles, Rihanna is known for handling things herself. But does she really have the pull to keep the Kardashians out of the Met Gala? According to whispers, she might have inked a deal to make it happen.
Over the years, Rihanna has been a Met Gala icon, thanks to her unforgettable outfits and undeniable star power. She’s also earned a reputation for her high standards. Back in 2015, reports surfaced that her performance fees ranged from $400,000 to $500,000, with her team confirming she rolls with a massive entourage.
If these rumors are true, Rihanna just proved once again that she’s a force to be reckoned with. One thing’s for sure: crossing her isn’t a good idea.
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief, recently made headlines by revealing that the fees for the Met Gala have reached new heights—twice as much as any performer’s fee in previous years. However, Rihanna is making waves for a different reason this time: she’s reportedly pushing to have the Kardashians banned from the event.
The Kardashians have been regulars at the Met Gala for years, but rumors suggest Rihanna might want to change that this year. Sources claim that she’s leading a movement to keep them off the guest list, and apparently, she’s not the only one. Many people are said to be backing her in this decision, feeling that the Kardashians’ time at the event has come to an end.
But how did Rihanna come to hold this kind of influence over the guest list? Well, for those who may not know, her partner, A$AP Rocky, is now a key player on the Met Gala planning committee. A$AP Rocky is co-chairing the event alongside LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton, with Anna Wintour remaining in charge of Vogue. With her boyfriend now holding a powerful position, Rihanna has a certain level of influence over who gets invited—and who doesn’t. It’s believed that this could mean a major shake-up in the guest list this year.
So why does Rihanna reportedly want to ban the Kardashians? The reasons seem to stem from a mix of personal and professional issues. One factor could be the Kardashians’ controversial connections to people like Chris Brown and Kanye West, as well as Kendall Jenner’s past relationship with A$AP Rocky. According to an insider, “Rihanna has never been a fan of the Kardashians. When Kim was married to Kanye West, she tried to get close to Rihanna, but Rihanna shut her down.”
But the tension with Kendall seems to run deeper. Sources say that Rihanna didn’t approve of Kendall’s friendship with Chris Brown, feeling betrayed by Kendall’s association with him. What adds more fuel to the fire is the fact that Kendall dated A$AP Rocky in 2017, something that reportedly still bothers Rihanna. Even though at the time Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were just friends, the situation made her feel protective of him. One insider explained, “It just solidified her dislike for Kendall.”
Now, it seems that Rihanna is ready to use her influence to exact some revenge at the Met Gala.
While it’s all still speculation, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rumors are true. Rihanna has made no secret of her disdain for the Kardashians, especially Kendall. In fact, their feud goes way back to 2012 when Kendall tweeted about how upset she’d be if Rihanna didn’t perform a certain song at her Los Angeles show. Rihanna’s response? A blunt “Well, don’t come.” The tension resurfaced in 2015 when Rihanna allegedly pulled out of performing at Victoria’s Secret Fashion Week because Kendall replaced her friend Jourdan Dunn on the runway. Rihanna reportedly ignored Kendall’s attempts to make amends after that.
The beef flared up again in 2017 when Kendall was named Fashion Icon of the Decade at New York Fashion Week, sparking backlash from fans who felt Rihanna deserved the title instead. Social media was flooded with comments defending Rihanna, while Kendall’s supporters pointed out her strong social media presence and influence in the fashion world.
So, is Rihanna really using her newfound influence to have the Kardashians banned from the Met Gala? It’s hard to say, but if the rumors are true, it seems like Rihanna’s not backing down anytime soon.
Some sources suggest that Rihanna threw shade at Kendall Jenner during the 2018 Met Gala. Allegedly, while standing next to Kendall at the bar, Rihanna loudly said, “Good thing I have curves to pull this outfit off. I would hate to be a stick figure.” She then reportedly stared at Kendall, laughed, and walked away.
The tension between them supposedly carried over into 2022 when Rihanna was accused of shading Kendall again at Paris Fashion Week. It was said that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky shared similar expressions toward all the models, but fans pointed out that Rihanna gave Kendall a noticeable side-eye during her walk in the Off-White show. Kendall was already receiving criticism for lacking charisma and attitude, but the real focus was on Rihanna’s apparent disdain.
One reason for the rumored bad blood is Kendall’s past relationship with A$AP Rocky. The two were seen together on multiple occasions in 2016, sparking rumors of a relationship. Their chemistry at Coachella in 2017 only fueled speculation, and the rumors were more or less confirmed when photographers at the Met Gala that year noticed how closely Kendall and A$AP stuck together. A Snapchat from Kim Kardashian showing Kendall and A$AP in an intimate moment further fueled the gossip.
There’s also the matter of Rihanna’s past with Travis Scott. The two were reportedly involved in 2015, although they never officially confirmed it. They were seen together at New York Fashion Week that year, and sources later revealed they were seriously dating by October. Since Travis went on to date Kylie Jenner, this could have contributed to any tension between Rihanna and the Kardashian-Jenner family.
Rihanna is also said to have issues with Kylie, allegedly due to Kylie copying her style. For instance, after Rihanna wore a custom green fringe playsuit at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, Kylie wore a similar one the following year. Rihanna was also spotted in a gray camouflage Canada Goose jacket in January 2017, only for Kylie to wear the same one soon after. In addition, Kylie was seen wearing a see-through dress and a leopard print suit, both of which Rihanna had worn first, further fueling the idea that Kylie had been copying her looks.
There have been several instances where social media users shared side-by-side photos of Kylie and Rihanna, making it easy to see how Kylie could be mistaken for Rihanna. Over time, many have pointed out how Kylie’s beauty brand seemed to follow in the footsteps of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, which revolutionized the makeup industry with 40 foundation shades. Then, in December 2017, when Kylie announced that her brand would launch its first line of concealers with 30 shades, fans immediately called it a copy of Fenty.
This has fueled rumors that Rihanna might be using her influence to get the Kardashians banned from the Met Gala. But is it really possible? The Kardashians have a lot of influence themselves, so it’s not entirely clear if Rihanna could pull it off.
Additionally, there’s some speculation that Rihanna’s “ban” list could extend beyond the Kardashians to Jay-Z, especially after a joke he made when he was trying to sign Rihanna to Def Jam Records at the age of 17. To secure her, Jay-Z allegedly joked that if she didn’t sign, he’d throw her out of a 29th-floor window. The comment has since been met with controversy, and some believe it may have put him on Rihanna’s bad side.
It’s hard to believe that Rihanna could have that kind of power, but surprisingly, many people would be fine if the Kardashians and Jay-Z were excluded from the Met Gala. Personally, though, I’m more excited about the theme for the event—it’s going to be incredible!
The 2025 Met Gala theme is “Superfine Tailoring: Black Style,” drawing inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The exhibition will highlight the evolution of Black men’s fashion from the 18th century to today.
So, what do you think? Do you believe Rihanna has the power to get the Kardashians banned? Or do you even think they should be banned in the first place? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
