There Are at Least 16 Celebrity Couples Who Broke Up Right After Their First Met Gala

The first Monday in May is upon us, so you already know we’re ready to judge celebs and their intricate looks while scrolling on social and lounging in sweats. C’est la vie! The Met Gala is the most coveted fashion event of the year, and while A-listers like Rihanna and Colman Domingo work that red carpet in stunning archival pieces, others see it as an opportunity to make major announcements and debut their relationships on the Met steps. There’s a chance we’ll see celeb couples step out together (yes, we are still holding out for a Kylie and Timmy Met Gala launch), but the real question is: Will they want to?

Over the years, fans have noticed certain celebrity couples have broken up right after making their red carpet debut at the event. This pattern has been dubbed the Met Gala Curse. So, what’s the deal with this so-called curse? Let’s take a walk down memory lane and hope that none of our faves are affected in 2026.

What Is the “Met Gala Curse”?

To put it simply, the theoretical Met Gala Curse claims that once a celebrity couple makes their red carpet debut (or simply attends the highly covered event), they end up calling it quits soon afterward. Though it’s important to note some couples—like Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston—actually meet at the Met Gala and embark on a romantic journey. (Counterpoint: We all know how HiddleSwift ended, so I’ll spare you the details—you get the point.)

We’ve seen the “curse” in play a couple of times throughout the years, which might have you wondering...

Which Celebrity Couples Have Broken Up After the Met Gala?

More than you might realize! Ahead, scroll on just 16 celeb couples who decided to step out for their very first Met Gala together…only to break up less than a year later.