Music

Here’s why Rihanna missed the 2024 Met Gala

The singer ordinarily sports some of the buzziest looks of the event, but couldn’t attend this year.

Published on May 6, 2024 10:25PM EDT

Rihanna feels like the only girl in the world who’s not at the 2024 Met Gala.

The “Umbrella” singer ordinarily stuns audiences with bold looks at the annual fashion event in New York City, but was nowhere to be seen at this year’s event. Sources tells PEOPLE why Rihanna wasn’t present at this year’s Met Gala: she’s ill with the flu.

Rihanna attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City — Rihanna at the 2023 Met Gala.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

The “Work” singer seemed to plan on going to the the event, as she previously said that she intended to keep “it real simple this year. ... It's gonna come to what my makeup and what my hair is going to do.”

Reps for Rihanna did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.

Rihanna served as the co-chair of the event in 2018, when the theme was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”

Rihanna attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. — Rihanna at the 2021 Met Gala.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

2024’s Met Gala features the theme “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” with the dress code "The Garden of Time.” Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Wintour, and Zendaya served as the co-chairs of this year’s event.

Prominent guests at this year’s Met Gala included Gigi Hadid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Colman Domingo, Cardi B, Kieran Culkin, Michelle Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Lizzo, Barry Keoghan, Doja Cat, Nicole Kidman, Lil Nas X, Demi Moore, Mindy Kaling, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Donald Glover, Ayo Edebiri, Jeremy Strong, and Keke Palmer.