Sydney Sweeney slammed for not sticking to Met Gala's Black dandyism-focused theme: 'Did she even try?'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: She came to serve Old Hollywood glam — but her critics say she totally missed the mark.

Sydney Sweeney is facing quite a backlash over her 2025 Met Gala look for being out of step with the evening’s culturally significant theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," and dress code, "Tailored for You."

The 'Euphoria' star teased her inspiration — 1950s silver screen legend Kim Novak — ahead of the event by sharing a photo of the starlet on her Instagram Stories.

It's worth noting that Sweeney is set to portray Novak in the upcoming biopic 'Scandalous' directed by this year’s Met Gala co-chair Colman Domingo. The film will explore Novak’s real-life romance with Sammy Davis Jr — a love affair that shocked Hollywood in its Golden Age, the New York Post reported.

Sydney Sweeney draws flak for not sticking to 2025 Met Gala theme

Draped in a custom figure-hugging black Miu Miu gown dripping in beaded fringe and featuring a chest cutout, Sydney Sweeney looked every bit the movie star — just not the kind the night was meant to honor.

This year's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which goes hand-in-hand with The Costume Institute's spring exhibition, focuses on Black dandyism and the sartorial influence of Black designers, reportedly drawing inspiration from Monica L Miller's 2009 book, 'Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity'.

Critics on social media did not appreciate that Sweeney didn't stick to the theme.

One wrote, "Sydney Sweeney is paying homage to a white actress for a black theme. Alright," and another complained, "Sydney Sweeney not on theme at all yall trying bad to give her 10s baby she could’ve worn that to the Oscar’s or something idk."

"I don’t get the correlation between the theme and this, but according to Sydney, her look is a homage to the 1968 movie ‘The Legend of Lylah Clare’. In custom Miu Miu," a person stated.

"Actress Sydney Sweeney looks like she’s going to a White House Correspondents Dinner and not the Met Gala based on Super Fine: Tailoring Black Style. #MetGala2025 I guess this is the 'safe' way to interpret the theme! Smh!" a tweet read.

"Sydney Sweeney said I don’t give a faulk what tonight’s theme is…Black Dandyism? Superfine: Tailoring Black Style? Ok well let me give y’all this *black* beaded dress that’s totally off theme…Oh and I’m honoring a white woman tonight! I’m giving Sydney an F," someone else ranted.

"Literally, why are so many people not on theme? Come on, bro," another fumed, while one more wondered, "Did she even try." 

Sweeney defended her look in an interview with Vogue’s red carpet correspondent, La La Anthony.

“I always feel that [Miu Miu] just brings such beautiful stories to every dress. So this is actually paying homage to Kim Novak, and I’m doing a movie with Colman Domingo… so we wanted to really just bring that to life,” she explained.

Rihanna steals the show at 2025 Met Gala with a huge baby bump

While Sydney Sweeney was catching heat, Rihanna was busy stealing the show.

The songstress and style icon confirmed she’s expecting her third child with A$AP Rocky, making her big reveal as the very last guest to arrive at the Met Gala. The 36-year-old strutted into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a pinstriped Marc Jacobs suit, a polka dot cravat, an oversized hat, and her huge baby bump.

Her co-chair partner A$AP Rocky had already hit the carpet hours earlier in a look he designed himself. “A bit of Harlem Nights,” he told Vogue, referencing Eddie Murphy’s 1989 crime comedy-drama film. The rapper completed the look with an umbrella and red-soled Christian Louboutins.

Earlier that day, Rihanna was snapped strolling in the New York rain in a gray-blue cropped set with a fur stole and cloche hat.

On the red carpet, A$AP Rocky gushed that “it feels amazing” to share the news at the gala, CNN reported.

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