Honestly, if you scrolled through social media during the first week of May in 2024 or 2025, you probably think you saw Katy Perry floating up the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps in a gown made of literal moss and flowers. Or maybe you saw her in a pinstriped blazer fused with a liquid-metal skirt.
The photos looked incredibly real. Her mother, Mary Perry, even texted her to gush about how she looked like a "Rose Parade" float.
But here is the reality: Katy Perry hasn't actually attended the Met Gala since 2022.
The "Firework" singer has become the unintended face of the AI era's biggest fashion hoax. While the world was busy "liking" her floral masterpiece, Katy was actually at home, or in the studio, or—more recently—busy with her Lifetimes Tour. This weird phenomenon where the internet creates a "fake" Katy Perry every May says a lot about her legacy. We expect her to be there because, for over a decade, she was the person who understood the assignment better than almost anyone else.
The Chandelier and the Cheeseburger: Peak Camp
If we’re talking about the Katy Perry Met Gala history, we have to start with 2019. The theme was "Camp: Notes on Fashion." While other celebrities showed up in slightly-more-colorful-than-usual suits, Katy showed up as a literal light fixture.
Designed by Jeremy Scott for Moschino, the outfit featured 3,000 LED lights and weighed about 40 pounds. She wasn't just wearing a chandelier; she was the chandelier. It had three layers of lights and a matching headpiece that she had to balance with the grace of a high-wire walker.
But the night didn't end there.
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Inside the museum, she famously changed into a giant cheeseburger. This wasn't some sleek, fashion-forward interpretation of a burger. It was a foam-and-sequin costume with lettuce, tomatoes, and a toothpick hat. There is even a viral video of Jennifer Lopez walking into a bathroom to find Katy struggling to zip up her burger bun. That is the essence of Katy Perry’s relationship with the Met: she’s willing to be the punchline if it means serving a moment.
Breaking Down the All-Time Greatest Hits
Before the AI fakes took over, Katy was a staple on those "Best Dressed" lists. She didn’t always go for the gag; sometimes she went for the scale.
- 2018: The Archangel (Heavenly Bodies)
Katy arrived in a gold Versace mini-dress and boots, but the focal point was the 6-foot-tall feathered wings. These things were massive. She actually had to arrive in an open-top vintage car because she couldn't sit down without crushing the feathers. She knelt on the carpet, spread the wings, and basically won the night. - 2010: The First LED Dress
Long before the chandelier, she wore a glowing CuteCircuit gown. This was her Met Gala debut, and it featured 3,000 color-changing LEDs. It was 2010, and we hadn't really seen tech-integrated fashion on that scale yet. - 2017: Red Tulle and Hidden Messages
For the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons" theme, she wore a red Maison Margiela Artisanal gown designed by John Galliano. It included a red veil with the word "Witness" embroidered on it, a nod to her album at the time. It was polarizing, weird, and exactly what the theme demanded.
What Most People Get Wrong About 2024 and 2025
The reason those AI images of Katy Perry at the 2024 and 2025 Met Galas went so viral is that they were "thematically perfect."
In 2024, for "The Garden of Time," the AI generated a dress covered in 3D roses and moss. It looked like something she would wear. In 2025, for the "Tailored for You" theme (celebrating Black dandyism and suiting), the AI put her in a pinstriped, deconstructed suit-dress.
Katy actually leaned into the joke. She posted the AI photos to her own Instagram with the caption: "P.s. this year I was actually with my mom so she's safe from the bots but I'm praying for the rest of y'all."
It’s a strange new reality. We’ve reached a point where a celebrity’s absence from an event generates more engagement than some people’s actual appearances. Katy missed the 2024 event because she was working on KP6 (the album that became 143), and in 2025, she was mid-tour.
Why Katy's Absence Leaves a Hole
There is a reason why the "bots" choose her. The Met Gala is supposed to be about theatricality.
A lot of modern attendees play it safe. They wear a beautiful gown from a major fashion house that would look just as good at the Oscars. Katy Perry never plays it safe. Whether it’s a spray-painted Moschino gown with a matching paint can (2015) or a dress with a 10-foot train that requires its own security detail, she treats the Met like a performance.
Actionable Insights for Fashion Fans
If you are tracking the next Met Gala or looking to understand the "Perry Effect," here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Verify the Carpet: Before sharing a "viral" look, check a reputable live-stream (like Vogue's official feed). If there isn't a video of the star walking and talking, it’s probably a render.
- The Scott-Perry Connection: Almost all of Katy's most "viral" moments were collaborations with Jeremy Scott. If he isn't attending or isn't dressing her, the look will likely be more subdued (like her 2022 Oscar de la Renta moment).
- Themes Matter: Katy is a "thematic" dresser. She doesn't just wear a pretty dress; she interprets the museum's exhibit. If a leaked photo doesn't fit the specific Costume Institute theme, it's a fake.
Keep an eye on the official guest lists for 2026. While the AI bots will undoubtedly try to put her on the steps again, the real Katy Perry usually lets her fans know where she is—whether that's in the recording studio or 3,000 miles away on a concert stage.
To stay ahead of the curve, you can check the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute website for the official 2026 theme announcement, which usually happens in the preceding fall. This will help you spot the AI fakes before they even hit your feed.