A painted arse and SO MANY CATS: The biggest, wackiest moments from the 2023 Met Gala red carpet.

It's celebrity Christmas. And fashion Christmas. And celebrities in fashion Christmas.

The first Monday in May (Tuesday for those of us Down Under) is back, with another Met Gala taking place in New York City.

This year's theme was 'Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty ', in honour of the German designer. It has been deemed problematic, because he was a bit of a d*ck, and I was told to expect lots of black and white and Chanel.

Zzzzz (I say, while wearing my H&M skirt).

Thankfully, most of the guests came in 'FITS. Glam, feathery, sparkly, poofy 'fits. 

(Side note: for all the looks, check out our full Met Gala fashion roundup here: Just every single red carpet look from the 2023 Met Gala in one place.)

This year's red carpet was hosted by TV personality LaLa Anthony, writer Derek Blasberg and Saturday Night Live's Chloe Fineman.

And, of course, it started late. Because that's fashion, darling. But when I did finally get underway, goodness, it was really something.

Here are the biggest, wildest, and most ridiculous moments from fashion's most glam (and bizarre) night.

A surprise Riri appearance.

As the red carpet wrapped up and the stars headed off into the museum, to do whatever mysterious sh*t they all do in there, the broadcast hosts started talking in riddles.

Fineman and Blasberg let slip that they were waiting around for 'a surprise', in the form of someone who had made us wait before. And there are very few people powerful enough to do that on fashion's most important night, so Rihanna's name began trending EVERYWHERE.

She is Met Gala royalty after all, and is known for being late to, well, everything.

Fineman, Blasberg and Anthony, began padding for time like nobody's business. Because A SURPRISE WAS COMING.

They swore there was going to be A SURPRISE.

But, dear friends, there was no (live streamed) surprise.

After TOO LONG, they just ended the broadcast. And nothing happened.

Rihanna filming a fenty ad in the bathroom while they’re closing the met gala carpet pic.twitter.com/qhc4rdEL9d

— JOAN OF ART (@umcornell) May 2, 2023

Approximately 40 minutes later, Rihanna and ASAP Rocky FINALLY arrived at the event, which was probably halfway over by that point.

And of course, they gave us exactly what we had waited for, with a bump reveal, of course:

 Image: Getty.

BUMP. Image: Getty.

Lil Nas X and his silver bum.

Lil Nas X always serves, and this year was no different. He arrived head-to-toe, literally, in silver, glittery body paint and sequins, with a cat mask.

Imagine your job being to paint Lil Nas X's butt. Image: Getty.

The best part?

Well, the silver butt.

Would love to learn more about the logistics of this. Who painted the arse? How does he... sit down? Those rhinestones would hurt on a seat, my friends. Did he consider going full cat and adding a tail? How many showers does it take to wash off sparkly silver paint? 

Thankfully, knowing Lil Nas, he'll probably spill the details sometime soon, but in the meantime, he answered all red-carpet questions with "meow".

Lil Nas X delivers a jaw-dropping look. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/5I9e1Q0APV

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 1, 2023

Because, well, the theme.

A highly disturbing Choupette/Jared Leto reveal.

Lagerfeld's cat Choupette was almost as famous as him, so it was unsurprising when she arrived on the red carpet.

Lizzo running to hug a giant cat is something I relate to on a deep spiritual level! Image: Getty.

She hugged Lizzo and waved to fans, and then, in a truly devastating moment, RIPPED HER HEAD OFF TO REVEAL THAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY JARED LETO.

It physically hurts. Image: Getty.

Leto then emerged from Choupette's skin to reveal a black gown.

And I cried. This is trauma I don't know if I'll get over.

To make matters worse, this ET video shows that he was swinging the cat head around with such abandon that he nearly knocked out Emily In Paris' Ashley Park.

Jared Leto is dressed as Karl Lagerfeld’s Cat, Choupette, and it's purrrfect. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/7UBgCJkZIz

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 1, 2023

BE MORE CAREFUL WITH YOUR GIANT CAT HEAD, PLEASE.

MORE CATS.

Karl Lagerfeld loved cats. And so, people brought cats in various forms to the red carpet.

Thankfully, no one else emerged from a cat suit, but Chloe Fineman did bring a sparkly pink cat purse. I've never needed anything more, FYI.

I NEED A SPARKLY CAT PURSE RIGHT NOW. Image: Getty.

And then Doja Cat came AS AN ACTUAL CAT.

WITH A CAT FACE AND EVERYTHING.

THAT SHE DID NOT RIP OFF AT ANY POINT.

I AM OBSESSED WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS. Image: Getty.

No one is going to the same lengths at these events as Doja and Lil Nas X and that is a TRAVESTY.

Pedro Pascal's legs.

He knows exactly what he's doing. Image: Getty.

That is all.

TWO pregnancy announcements.

Model Karlie Kloss arrived in a black gown, inspired by a vintage Lagerfeld dress. And then she turned to the side to reveal a baby bump.

Image: Getty.

I mean, debuting a pregnancy at the Met Gala? Iconic. It's not quite Rihanna-at-the-Super-Bowl iconic, but this is the fashion Super Bowl.

"I was pregnant last time during the pandemic, so this is my first time on a red carpet pregnant," she said. "It's a super special moment but also kind of vulnerable."

Later in the night, Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian arrived to ALSO reveal a baby bump.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian reveal they are expecting their second child together. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/0F8TNgaBla

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 2, 2023

LOVE that for them.

The matching outfits.

Oh no.

Olivia Wilde and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue China Margaret Zhang arrived in THE SAME DRESS.

They each reference a Chloé dress from 1983, designed by Karl Lagerfeld, so are very on theme.

But. 

Awkward.

...Oh. Image: Getty.

I mean, at least they're styled differently. And different colours. But rumours before the show swirled that after last year's less-than-impressive looks, designers needed to get their threads 'pre-approved' for the first time since 1983.

Now, surely that isn't the case. Because if it was... someone is out there sabotaging!

Margaret Zhang / Olivia Wilde at #MetGala pic.twitter.com/e94yDdP6ts

— sandra (@Fallngforxharry) May 1, 2023

All the other WEIRD fashion.

If you aren't Kimmy K, how do you make noise at the Met Gala? Well, sometimes you just have to come dressed as space seaweed.

That was surely what Eva Chen was going for, right?

Image: Getty.

Janelle Monae, who I am obsessed with, came as a giant suit. And I am, once again, looking at a Met Gala outfit, wondering HOW THESE PEOPLE SIT DOWN???

Sometimes you just gotta come as a circle! For fun! Image: Getty.

She then emerged from the suit to reveal a giant... swirl. And the question still stands.

Janelle Monáe does an epic transformation at the #MetGala! pic.twitter.com/6m7y7SKBZ6

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 2, 2023

Erykah Badu came as a shaggy, white dementor and it's terrifying but also, anyone who can walk a red carpet with ZERO visibility and weird fringe scratching their face deserves respect.

Straight outta Azkaban. Image: Getty.

Idk pals, this from Jeremy Pope is a bit on the nose!!!!

Or on the floor, ya know? Image: Getty.

And, far too late on account of Rihanna, another Met Gala came to a close.

Now, to wait around for all the selfies, secrets and after party gossip.

Feature image: Getty.