Why Sarah Jessica Parker Skipped the Met Gala 2025 — And What She Did Instead

The ‘And Just Like That…’ Sarah Jessica Parker missed fashion’s biggest night due to work commitments but stayed connected with fans through a courtside moment.

New York, May 6 — Fashion icon and actress Sarah Jessica Parker may have skipped the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year, but she had a solid reason: work.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on May 2 at the 2nd Annual Cultured Magazine Cult 100 event, the 60-year-old And Just Like That… star confirmed she would be absent from the 2025 Met Gala. “I have to work,” Parker told ET’s Rachel Smith. “But there’s going to be so much to see and I look forward to seeing what everybody does, and how they interpret the theme and the homework they did for the assignment.”

Despite her absence, Parker stayed active online during the glamorous evening, posting highlights from the New York Knicks’ dramatic 108-105 win over the Boston Celtics to her Instagram Stories — a subtle nod to her love for NYC and its homegrown icons, both fashion and sports.

This year’s Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” spotlighted The Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibit inspired by Monica L. Miller’s influential book Slaves to Fashion, which explores the legacy of Black dandyism and tailoring from the 18th century to today.

Though she wasn’t on the carpet this year, Parker is no stranger to Met Gala headlines. Her 12th appearance in 2024, wearing a sculptural Richard Quinn corset gown, stood out for its craftsmanship and homage to the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” theme. She attended alongside close friend Andy Cohen.

“I always feel a responsibility,” Parker told Vogue during last year’s gala. “It’s not just about your comfort — it’s about honoring the vision of the designer, the milliner, the stylists. You’re presenting their art.”

From her thrifted black velvet debut in 1995 to co-chairing in 2014, Parker’s presence has long been a Met Gala staple. And while she missed this year’s red carpet, her legacy as one of the event’s most celebrated fashion icons remains untarnished.