Met Gala icon forced to skip red carpet as she says 'I have to work' as fans gutted

As the first days of May roll in, fashion’s most high-profile night is set to unfold in New York City - the is here. But while the red carpet will be awash with celebrities and couture, one of its most iconic fixtures will be notably absent.

This evening, a glittering lineup - including Pharrell Williams, Doechii, A$AP Rocky, Cynthia Erivo, , Colman Domingo, Usher, and Janelle Monáe - is expected to dazzle at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

However, Sarah Jessica Parker, a longtime darling of the Met Gala and consistent attendee for nearly three decades, won’t be gracing the steps this time around.

The celebrated actress, 60, who became a global icon thanks to her role as Carrie Bradshaw in the hit series Sex and the City, has been synonymous with the event since the mid-90s. But this year, her demanding schedule has taken priority.

“I have to work,” she explained to Entertainment Tonight, confirming her absence. “But there’s gonna be so much to see, and I look forward to seeing what everybody does. And I can’t wait to see how they interpret the theme and the sort of homework they did for the assignment - the very joyful assignment.”

She added: “I care a lot about [the Met Gala] and I want to try to honour the curators, and everyone who’s inspired the moment for the people who get to attend.”

The 2025 theme, Superfine' serves as a companion to the museum’s forthcoming exhibit Tailoring Black Fashion, spotlighting 300 years of Black style and influence.

SJP’s connection to the Met Gala stretches back to 1995, long before Sex and the City aired its first episode. Back then, she famously pulled together a DIY look, opting for a secondhand dress and doing her own hair and makeup. That unpretentious moment would mark the beginning of her red carpet legacy.

In 2006, she made headlines in a tartan gown by Alexander McQueen, a look that paid homage to British fashion. When the Met honoured McQueen posthumously in 2011, Parker returned in a touching tribute dress to celebrate the late designer’s legacy.

Through the 2010s, she became a Met Gala mainstay, rarely missing a year and consistently delivering unforgettable looks that balanced theatricality with storytelling.

It’s unclear exactly what project is keeping her away this time, though fans have a hunch. The third season of And Just Like That — the Sex and the City revival - is just around the corner, premiering May 29. The series continues to follow the lives of Carrie, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis), diving into their next chapter beyond the original show’s finale.

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