The end of influencers at the Met Gala? Anna Wintour removes online stars from guest list

The who’s who of A-listers and fashion industry darlings walked the red carpet at this year’s Met Gala, hosted by Vogue’s long-reigning editor Anna Wintour.

And as is well known, she keeps a close eye on who gets on the ultra-exclusive guest list, but in recent years she’s been criticized for letting go too much.

Ahead of the 2021 annual event, a celebrity agent told Page Six that those on and off the list for that year’s gala had put off traditional celebrities as many influencers were included.

But after a few years of influencers making up the red carpet guest list — including Chiara Ferragni, Liza Koshy, Lilly Singh, James Charles, Addison Rae, NikkieTutorials, Dixie D’Amelio, and Avani Gregg — it seems that Anna and the committee cutting back on the number of internet stars present.

From her first Met Gala experience, Emma (pictured left in 2021 and right in 2022) likened it to going to prom, a life event she herself hadn’t checked off the list

The most notable influencer at this year’s Met Gala was YouTuber and It Girl Emma Chamberlain, who reprized her role as a red carpet interviewer for Vogue.

From her first Met Gala experience, Emma likened going to prom, a life event she herself didn’t check off the list after her YouTube career took off when she was 16.

“Actually, this kind of feels like going to prom, because of the nerves,” she said Fashion at the time.

“You’re not that scared, but you’re excited. This is my prom experience.’

With a smaller number of influencers attending the Met Gala, TikTok hosted a watch party for creators.

One creator present at New York’s Dear Irving rooftop bar, where the watch party was held, was Jenee, better known as @highlowluxxe on the video sharing platform.

She uploaded a get ready with me video to her TikTok, as well as footage from inside the party, the location of which offers incredible views of Manhattan.

Jenee also appeared alongside influencers Carla Rockmore, Caroline Vazzana, Pierrah and Eric Sedeno in one InStyle TikTok Video at the event.

Another creator Hannah Harrell also attended a TikTok watch party and posted about her process of choosing an outfit for her account.

One creator who attended TikTok’s Met Gala viewing party was Jenee, better known as @highlowluxxe on the video-sharing platform

Jenee (pictured) also appeared alongside influencers Carla Rockmore, Caroline Vazzana, Pierrah and Eric Sedeno in an InStyle TikTok video at the event

TikTok creator Addison Rae made her Met Gala debut in 2021, but she was also there last year

Liza Koshy has also attended for several years (pictured left in 2018) and Dixie D’Amelio (right) was also invited in 2021

Lilly Singh was another internet celebrity who attended the gala in 2019

In 2021, when the Met Gala was held in September due to COVID (it is traditionally held on the first Monday in May), NikkieTutorials was excited about being invited to the gala.

“DON’T DETERMINE… when I was asked to participate in the Met Gala (!!!!!) I knew I wanted to pay tribute to a trans icon who was at the forefront of the Stonewall riots… Marsha P. Johnson paved the way for so many of us, and I hope I’ve made my community proud tonight,” the trans influencer said.

“This night was so unbelievably unreal…. I can’t wait to tell you EVERYTHING!!!!!!… WE DID IT GUYS!!!!!… I will be eternally grateful!’

That same year, Addison Rae made her Met Gala debut and was back in 2022.

“I wrote about this in my dream journal. I am so grateful. Thank you,” she wrote after walking the red carpet for the first time.

James walked the red carpet in 2019 and wrote at the time, ‘My first meetup gala… thank you so much @youtube for the invite and @alexanderwangny for dressing up!

“To be invited to such an important event as the prom is such an honor and a step forward in the right direction for influencer representation in the media and I am so excited to be a catalyst.”

James Charles carries Alexander Wang to the 2019 Met Gala (left) and in 2021 NikkieTutorials (right) stunned the carpet with her ode to Marsha P. Johnson

Another returning participant is influencer Chiara Ferragni (left in 2022) and TikTok makeup guru Avani Gregg (right) appeared at the 2021 event

Try Guys YouTuber Eugene Lee Yang attends In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion Met Gala celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2021

That same year, YouTuber Jackie Aina also graced the red carpet in this bright pink number

One of the first influencers to be invited was Liza Koshy, who also acted as Vogue’s red carpet interviewer for the event in previous years, starting with her debut in 2018.

“Thanks to @voguemagazine and @annawintour for dressing up these little brown buns (or not),” she wrote at the time.

“It was an honor, a blessing and a sweaty dream to be Vogue’s interviewer on the Met Gala red carpet. Rihanna, J-Lo, Ariana… you all looked great, but standing next to me made you look even better. Don’t mention it.’

And it seems the industry’s elite have taken note of the tidal wave of internet stars, with a well-known agent telling Page Six in 2019, “I’ve been told there are a lot of influencers on the guest list.”

“I’ve heard that Facebook and Instagram have occupied so many tables, and that’s put a lot of people off going, in addition to the mask mandate.

“Personally, I don’t think the Met is cool anymore… It’s gone from super-prestige to [being] full of influencers.’

Anna has come under scrutiny over the years for inviting Kim Kardashian, who may be the original influencer, and her family, including sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

She also had to defend that Kim and her then-husband, Kanye West, were on the cover of the fashion book in 2014.

Part of the joy of editing Vogue, one that lies in a long tradition of this magazine, is the opportunity to showcase those who define the culture at a given time, who shake things up, whose presence in the world defines how it looks and influences the way we see it,” Anna wrote in the song.

“I think we can all agree that role is currently played by Kim and Kanye to a T. (Or maybe that should be to a K?)”