The Met Gala may be the biggest fashion event of the year but as well as showing off incredible outfits, the red carpet in NYC is also often used by the stars to show off budding romances – old and new.

But while outfit flops or wardrobe malfunctions might be celebrities’ worst nightmares when it comes to the event it appears there could be a Met Gala curse when it comes to relationships.

There is a stark trend of big stars who pose together on the famous steps then break up soon after their appearances.

The curse has hit the likes of Kim Kardashian and ex boyfriend Pete Davidson who posed together at the event in 2022 – where she wore her famous tight Marilyn Monroe dress. 

The headline-grabbing couple called it quits just three months later after dating for a total of nine months.

Other couples including Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik, Miley Cyrus and Chris Hemsworth and Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart have broken up soon after the event too.

So who has the Met Gala curse impacted? 

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson 

The curse has hit the likes of Kim Kardashian and ex boyfriend Pete Davidson who posed together at the event in 2022. Three months later they split

Kim made waves at the Met Gala in 2022 for two big reasons.

Firstly she wore one of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dresses from 1962 when she sang Happy Birthday to president John F. Kennedy.

The star said she had lost more than a stone in three weeks to fit into a dress.

And secondly it was the first big event where she posed with her then boyfriend Pete Davidson.

They looked loved-up as they posed together but it seems the Met Gala curse hit them hard as they split the August after the annual May event.

After less than a year together, an insider said that the pair decided to just be friends – citing demanding schedules and the long distance as Pete worked on a project in Australia while Kim was based in the U.S.

News of their split came a day after a source told People that the ‘long distance hasn’t been easy for Kim’ as Pete continued shooting Wizards! abroad.

An insider explained to E! News: ‘They have a lot of love and respect for each other, but found that the long distance and their demanding schedules made it really difficult to maintain a relationship.’

They looked loved-up as they posed together but it seems the Met Gala curse hit them hard as they split the August after the annual May event

After less than a year together, an insider said that the pair decided to just be friends – citing demanding schedules and the long distance as Pete worked on a project in Australia

Kim and Pete first set tongues wagging during her Saturday Night Live episode the October before, locking lips during an Aladdin-themed sketch.

News broke shortly thereafter that they had become a couple in real life – months after Kim filed for divorce from Kanye West, who by last autumn was publicly begging her to give the marriage another chance.

Kim joined a long list of Pete’s celebrity girlfriends, including Andie MacDowell’s daughter Margaret Qualley and Cindy Crawford’s daughter Kaia Gerber, as well as Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale and Phoebe Dynevor. 

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik

Power couple Gigi and former One Direction star Zayn looked the epitome of romance as they posed at the Met Gala together back in 2016

Power couple Gigi and former One Direction star Zayn looked the epitome of romance as they posed at the Met Gala together back in 2016. 

They then briefly split in 2018 before getting back together before calling it quits for good in 2021. 

Their loved-up appearance couldn’t have been further from their messy split as they gazed adoringly at each other before Gigi caressed the side of his face. 

She looked stunning in a silver dress to match the Fashion In An Age Of Technology theme. 

Their split turned ugly as Zayn soon after pleaded no contest to four counts of harassment in October 2021, after allegedly pushing Gigi’s mother Yolanda, 58, into a dresser. 

After their first split in 2018 Zayn said: ‘Gigi and I had an incredibly meaningful, loving and fun relationship and I have a huge amount of respect and adoration for Gigi as a woman and a friend. She has such an incredible soul.

‘I’m grateful to all of our fans for respecting this difficult decision and our privacy at this time, we wish this news could have come from us first. We love you all. xZ.’ 

Just 11 minutes after Zayn put out his post, Gigi released her own statement on the site.

There she wrote: ‘Breakup statements often seem impersonal because there is really no way to put into words what two people experience together over a few years.. not only in the relationship, but in life in general. 

They then briefly split in 2018 before getting back together before calling it quits for good in 2021

Their loved-up appearance couldn’t have been further from their messy split as they gazed adoringly at each other before Gigi caressed the side of his face

‘I’m forever grateful for the love, time, and life lessons that Z and I shared. I want nothing but the best for him and will continue to support him as a friend that I have immense respect and love for. As for the future, whatever’s meant to be will always be. xG.’

According to The Sun, the couple made the decision to split after their busy schedules added strain and distance to their high-profile romance.

A source told the newspaper: ‘They are no longer a couple but they do remain close and are supportive of each other.

‘The reality is that they’ve grown apart, having been together for a long time. They have crazy work schedules that would put pressure on any relationship.’

The source continued: ‘This is definitely the end for now, but this isn’t a bitter split and they both have respect for each other.

‘It’s a mutual decision so no one has completely ruled out a reunion in the future, but for now that’s not where their heads are at.’

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth 

Miley and Liam attended the Met Gala in 2019 – where Miley looked incredible in a leggy green and black dress

Miley and Liam attended the Met Gala in 2019 – where Miley looked incredible in a leggy green and black dress.

Miley and Liam broke up just three months later in August 2019 and finalized their divorce in January 2020 – in another Met Gala curse case. The Met was their last red  carpet appearance together. 

In 2020 she opened up about her ‘very public’ divorce on the Joe Rogan Experience.

The star said the split ‘f*****g sucked’ because of the ‘villainizing’ she experienced after the breakup became public.

She spoke more of her relationship with Hemsworth, that started on the set of their film The Last Song in 2008 leading them to marry in 2018 before splitting after a few months of marriage in August 2019. 

‘What really sucked about it wasn’t the fact that me and someone that I loved realized that we don’t love each other the way that we used to anymore,’ the Midnight Sky singer said. 

Liam filed for divorce back in August 2019, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’, and the pair have since moved on with new partners.

Miley and Liam first began dating back in June 2009 after meeting on the set of The Last Song.

The pair made their red carpet debut at the 2010 Oscars and were on-and-off and even engaged until they officially broke up in September 2013.

He put on his usual embarrassed display as she looked animated on the red carpet

Miley and Liam broke up just three months later in August 2019 and finalized their divorce in January 2020 – in another Met Gala curse case

Miley and Liam rekindled their love two-and-a-half years later in 2015 before their secret wedding in December 2018.

May 2019 was their last red carpet appearance together at the MET Gala before their shock split was confirmed in August.

‘Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time,’ read their statement.

‘Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and careers.’

‘They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy.’

Selena Gomez and the Weeknd 

Selena dated The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, for 10 months in 2017 before they split

Selena dated The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, for 10 months in 2017 before they split.

They appeared at the Met Gala together in the May of that year and split in the October.

The Weeknd and Selena began dating at the start of 2017, during which time the starlet kept out of the spotlight while dealing with her health and other personal matters.

Soon after they split in October 2017, she was seen spending time with on-off ex Justin Bieber. They were photographed together, however, before she announced that she had split with The Weeknd.

It has never been clarified as to whether Selena had officially ended her relationship with The Weeknd when she started seeing Justin again.

Although The Weeknd has not spoken out publicly about the situation, he has used his art before to air their dirty laundry.

They appeared at the Met Gala together in the May of that year and split in the October

The Weeknd and Selena began dating at the start of 2017, during which time the starlet kept out of the spotlight while dealing with her health and other personal matters

This included several references to Selena in lyrics to songs that he released immediately following the split.

In his song Call Out My Name, he sang, ‘Guess I was just another pit stop / ‘Til you made up your mind / You just wasted my time.’

In the song, he included lyrics that suggested he would have been willing to donate a kidney to Selena, who had undergone a kidney transplant prior to the start of her relationship with him.

‘I said I didn’t feel nothing baby, but I lied / I almost cut a piece of myself for your life,’ sang the crooner.

Bella Hadid and the Weeknd 

The Weeknd also dated Bella Hadid with them appearing at the Met Gala together in 2016

In another case of the curse they appeared at the Met in May and then split in the November of that year

The Weeknd also dated Bella Hadid with them appearing at the Met Gala together in 2016.

In another case of the curse they appeared at the Met in May and then split in the November of that year. 

‘They are in different places right now, physically and mentally,’ a source said at the time. 

‘Bella is prepping for her fashion week commitments and Abel is working on his music and his upcoming acting debut.’

‘They have been arguing a lot recently,’ it was added. ‘They hope to get back together at one point but for now are focusing on themselves and their projects.’

They first started dating in 2015 when they met at Coachella. But by December they were over.

In February they reunited but then they split again in late 2016. He went on to romance Selena Gomez but they parted ways in October 2017.

In July 2018 Bella and The Weeknd were back on.

Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes

Camila and Shawn attended the Met Gala together in 2021 – where she wore an eye-catching purple look

The couple dated for two years before splitting in November 2021 – just a few months after the Met Gala

Camila and Shawn attended the Met Gala together in 2021 – where she wore an eye-catching purple look. 

The couple dated for two years before splitting in November 2021 – just a few months after the Met Gala.

They reunited briefly in 2023, ultimately ending their relationship again just shortly after.

‘Shawn and Camila have a lot of history and they tested the waters again after coming back into each other’s lives,’ a source told the publication of the pair at the time. 

‘But it was just a fling and they’ve put an end to it now,’ the insider added. ‘They realized it was probably a mistake to give things another shot. Things ended between them the first time for a reason, after all.’

The on-again couple originally went public over the summer of 2019 and stayed together through the COVID-19 lockdowns only to split near the end of 2021, after two years of dating.

They reunited briefly in 2023, ultimately ending their relationship again just shortly after

However by the middle of April, rumors were swirling that they were back together – and confirmation came when they were glimpsed kissing at Coachella.

When their union ended back in 2021, the pair released a statement to confirm their breakup.

However the source told the publication that because the rekindled romance was so short-lived they hope to move on without addressing it.

Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart 

Cole Sprouse and Lili caught the eye as they attended the Met Gala together in 2019 – with Lili wearing a gorgeous blue ensemble

Cole Sprouse and Lili caught the eye as they attended the Met Gala together in 2019 – with Lili wearing a gorgeous blue ensemble. 

Just the year after they had split as the Met Gala curse took its toll. 

Soon after on his Instagram page Cole penned a lengthy caption giving further details, clarifying that they ‘initially separated in January of that year’ before permanently splitting in March. 

‘What an incredible experience I had,’ he wrote. ‘I’ll always feel lucky and cherish that I had the chance to fall in love.’

He added: ‘I wish her nothing but the utmost love and happiness moving forward. All I’ll say about it, anything else you hear doesn’t matter.’

‘Also her movie comes out soon! I’m sure she’s just as incredible in it as everything else she does. Thanks guys.’

Cole’s comments came after Lili gave an emotional interview about suffering heartbreak and depression.

The actress told Refinery29: ‘I couldn’t see the light. I was like, I feel like I’m dying. It was f*****g rough, and there’s no other way through it than just through it.’

Just the year after they had split as the Met Gala curse took its toll

Soon after on his Instagram page Cole penned a lengthy caption giving further details, clarifying that they ‘initially separated in January of that year’ before permanently splitting in March

She added: I’ve seen a lot of people when it comes to heartache and grief and breakups, and they try to get that void filled with sex, with coke, with food, with drinking, [but] the void is still there.’

‘I took the road less traveled and just dealt with my s***t. I had to face my own pain head-on.’

However, Lili later took to social media to clarify that her comments weren’t about Cole, despite the fact they had split that year.

She tweeted Tuesday: ‘Quotes taken from my most recent interview are not about a ‘breakup.’ They are about the depression I’ve felt over these last few months.’

‘Tired of people taking my words out of context and piecing together their own story for clickbait.’

Adding: ‘I would never speak so candidly about something as personal as a breakup. That’s incredibly private. I was addressing my depression.’

The initial reporting of their split had said that the two remained friends despite parting ways.

Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan 

Sabrina and Barry were quite the headline grabbing couple during their brief romance and made their first official appearance together at the Met in 2024

Sabrina and Barry were quite the headline grabbing couple during their brief romance and made their first official appearance together at the Met in 2024.

Later that year however they were over as she embarked on her Short n’ Sweet tour.  

Barry was hit by claims he cheated on the hitmaker after it was reported that the pair had split after a year of dating last year.

However, a source told Us Weekly the actor was ‘very devoted to her happiness’, but that they are ‘at different places in their lives.’

The insider further divulged that it had been ‘challenging for their relationship since she started going on tour and has been gone a lot’ and that ‘their schedules were not aligning.’

‘All the time spent apart it was hard to maintain a relationship amid her career exploding.’

The source added that Sabrina was being ‘pulled in so many directions’ and simply did not have time to ‘commit to a relationship.’

Later that year however they were over as she embarked on her Short n’ Sweet tour

Sabrina had an awkward run-in with ex Barry at the 2025 Met Gala on Monday – one year after they first confirmed their romance at the same event

After reaching a ‘huge level of stardom’ it’s reportedly been tough for the songbird to ‘focus and to be present for him in a relationship.’

The source added she ‘barely has time for herself let alone for a relationship.’

Another insider told the publication that the breakup happened within ‘the last month’ because of their busy schedules.

The fact that they weren’t able to spend more time together ‘took a toll on the relationship.’

It was noted that there’s no bad blood between the ‘cordial’ pair and their split was ‘not contentious.’

‘Both agreed it wasn’t working.’

The two have indeed been busy with their careers.