2023 Met Gala: Lizzo goes viral for hugging Jared Leto (dressed as Karl Lagerfeld’s CAT) in NYC

Lizzo got the surprise of her life when she got an unexpected hug from Jared Leto, who was unrecognizable behind a full-body cat suit, when she arrived at the 2023 Met Gala on Monday night.

While it’s unclear if she initially knew the Oscar winner, 51, was the man behind the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld’s dressed-up cat, Choupette, the 35-year-old Truth Hurts hitmaker understandably looked creeped out during their exchange.

As the actor wrapped his arms around her shoulders for a hug, she looked wary that his costume would feature white fur on her gorgeous beaded black dress, which had a bold thigh-high slit.

The four-time Grammy winner looked scary before patting Leto on the back as she headed for the red carpet.

For the occasion, she wore a form-fitting floor-length dress designed by Chanel and her wavy locks in a romantic updo.

Her glamorous makeup look consisted of a dramatic gray smokey eye, black winged eyeliner, nude lipstick and lots of blush on the apples of her cheeks.

The rapper-singer-songwriter, who has attended the Met Gala ever since her debut at the event in 2021, embellished her timeless gown with stacks of beaded bracelets, pearl earrings and black nail polish.

Meanwhile, Leto got a lot of attention dressed as Choupette, now 11, who has more than 181,000 Instagram followers and is said to be the most photographed cat in the world.

After Lagerfeld’s death, his famous cat was left to the caretaker of the designer Françoise Caçote, who stopped working to devote her time to caring for her.

Last month it was reported that Lagerfeld’s cat had not received her £1.3 million inheritance, more than four years after his death.

The hefty inheritance would go to Caçote to ensure that neither she nor the spoiled cat would ever be short of anything.

But years later, Lagerfeld’s complex web of assets, funds and debt means his will has not yet been executed, forcing Choupette to continue her career with a possible appearance at the Met Gala later this year.

The former creative director of Chanel, Lagerfeld, took over Choupette from French model Baptiste Giabiconi, who will inherit 30 percent of Lagerfeld’s hundreds of millions of euros.

Choupette was treated like a supermodel by Lagerfeld, who took her on his private jets, allowed her to eat from the finest china and stay at the Mercer Hotel when he visited New York.

Choupette has appeared in dozens of fashion and advertising campaigns, most recently on the cover of Vogue for May 2023, where she is cradled by Naomi Campbell.

The theme for this year’s ball, “In Honor of Karl,” will coincide with The Met Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, a tribute to the late designer and titled Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.

The decision to honor Karl has sparked controversy given the many offensive comments he’s made over the years, from criticizing the #MeToo movement to opposing same-sex marriage.

“I’m against it for a very simple reason: in the ’60s they all said we were entitled to the difference. And now they suddenly want a civilian life,” he said Shame of same-sex marriage.

‘It’s hard to imagine – one of the daddies at work and the other at home with the baby. What would that be like for the baby? Don’t know. I see more lesbians married with babies than boys married with babies. And I also believe more in the relationship between mother and child than in that between father and child.’

Although he eventually expressed his support for same-sex marriage at his Chanel haute couture show in the spring of 2013, he still said he was “less enthusiastic” about adopting same-sex children, according to the AP.

Along with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, who directs and hosts the annual event, the 2023 MET Gala will also be co-hosted by Penelope Cruz, Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel and also Roger Federer.

While the show may be known for its glitzy and over-the-top red carpet — with details about what goes on inside that often remain mysterious — at its heart, it’s a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

Last year, the 2022 MET gala alone raised a total of $17.4 million, reportedly Billboard.

This year, the entry fee has increased from $30,000 to $50,000, according to Page six.

Even if you have the money, that doesn’t guarantee entry to the party.

Every guest must be invited and there is a waiting list for the coveted golden ticket.

And status matters, according to The New York Times.

Paris Hilton is one of the big names attending what will be her first Met Gala.

Meanwhile, Blake Lively, a frequent visitor, announced that she will not be at the party.

“I’ll look,” she said, according People.

Elle Fanning, Kardashian and La La Anthony are among the other celebrities in attendance.

As for Wintour’s role in the bash, Vogue’s editor-in-chief hosts the party and oversees the guest list and even the menu.

She has been the president of the Met Gala since 1994 and continues to stand guard at every event.