Hailey Bieber's Met Gala Gown Draws Harsh Online Criticism

More than 24 hours after the 2026 Met Gala, Hailey Bieber is facing a wave of online scorn for her red carpet ensemble, with detractors labeling the look "uninteresting," "boring," and even "garbage." The supermodel attended the annual fashion event two nights ago, which carried the theme "Costume Art" and a "Fashion is Art" dress code. She walked the carpet alongside fellow model Kendall Jenner, and while her husband Justin Bieber was notably absent, the conversation quickly shifted from his whereabouts to her attire.

Bieber wore a metallic gold and blue fabric gown that turned heads, but the reaction from fans was overwhelmingly negative. The outfit featured a strapless gold bustier with superhero-style accents, worn without a bra, which highlighted her figure. She paired the top with a long blue column skirt and, at times, a matching dupatta scarf—a choice that drew both praise and accusations of cultural appropriation.

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Online Backlash and Specific Complaints

Hailey Bieber attends the 2026 Met Gala in a signature @YSL blue custom look pic.twitter.com/2MCabKJEr4

— Fashion (@XFashion) May 4, 2026

On social media platform Reddit, users were quick to voice their displeasure. "Girl is an originality-free zone," one critic wrote. Another commented, "I love this shade of blue, but the outfit is boring, unoriginal, and uninteresting." A particularly harsh remark simply stated, "This is garbage." Another user added, "It's pretty. But that's it."

hailey bieber at the 2026 met gala pic.twitter.com/CbVit3kNh9

— ˖᯽ ݁˖ pop backup ˖᯽ ݁˖ (@bestofcarpet) May 4, 2026

The Rhode founder kept her glam simple for the event, with her light hair pulled back into a bun and her signature "glazed" dewy makeup look featuring bronzer, blush, and a glossy lip. Her dress came from French designer YSL, honoring her partnership with the brand, and the same designer also outfitted fellow model Amelia Hamlin for her Met Gala appearance this year.

Justin Bieber's Absence and Recent Bikini Post

Regarding Justin Bieber's absence, some speculate the Canadian singer chose to boycott the event due to backlash over Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez being named honorary co-chairs. Hailey married Justin in 2018, and the couple share a son, Jack Blues.

Just before the Met Gala, Hailey Bieber posted a bikini selfie on Instagram, showing off her figure in a stylish bathing suit with a cardigan. That post also sparked mixed reactions, with over 250 Reddit users upvoting a comment from five months ago that read: "She's ok looking. Not a fan of the fillers. She dresses well and seems confident." Another user chimed in, "She has a nice body and great stylists. Objectively, she's not ugly."