Dwayne Johnson backs Met Gala skirt says 'most masculine men wear skirts' in the Polynesian culture

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Dwayne Douglas Johnson turned heads at the Met Gala 2026 when he arrived in a pleated skirt, but what followed on the red carpet was less about shock value and more about cultural context.

On Monday, May 4, Johnson walked into the Metropolitan Museum of Art alongside his wife, Lauren Hashian, embracing a look that quickly became one of the most discussed fashion moments of the night.

Dressed in a black mohair tailcoat paired with a structured pleated skirt, Johnson leaned into the attention rather than deflecting it, making clear the outfit carried meaning beyond the runway.

Dwayne Johnson links Met Gala look to Polynesian heritage and masculinity

The custom design, created by Thom Browne, featured intricate tailoring with hundreds of meters of hand-pleated silk ribbon work, giving the outfit a sculptural, layered finish.

But Johnson focused less on the craftsmanship and more on what the silhouette represented to him personally.

He explained that when the concept was first presented, it came with a question about whether he would be comfortable wearing a skirt. His response, he said, came naturally from his background.

“In our culture, Polynesian culture, we rock lavalavas, we rock skirts,” Johnson said while speaking to reporters on the carpet.

He added, “The most masculine men, not that I’m one of them, but the most masculine men wear lavalavas and skirts,” pointing to traditional Polynesian clothing as a foundation for his interpretation of masculinity.

Met Gala 2026 appearance reframes masculinity conversation on red carpet

Johnson’s comments shifted the conversation from fashion experimentation to cultural identity and how masculinity is defined across different societies.

While Western red carpet fashion often separates menswear and womenswear in rigid ways, Johnson’s reference to Polynesian traditions challenged that framing, highlighting clothing norms that differ significantly across cultures.

His appearance also stood out in a night already built around bold interpretation, with the 2026 Met Gala theme, “Fashion is Art,” encouraging guests to use clothing as storytelling.

Dwayne Johnson turns fashion moment into cultural perspective

Rather than treating the look as a publicity moment, Johnson positioned it as a reflection of heritage and personal understanding of identity.

The discussion that followed his appearance centered less on the garment itself and more on what it represented, especially in how cultural practices influence modern fashion choices.

By grounding his explanation in tradition, Johnson added another layer to an already high-profile Met Gala moment, turning a red carpet outfit into a broader conversation about how masculinity and clothing intersect across cultures.