Serena Williams has been branded 'cheap' and 'tacky' for wearing a provocative look to Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner in New York City on Sunday. The 44-year-old tennis icon turned heads upon arrival, wearing a backless red sequin gown featuring a striking asymmetrical silhouette and a daring open-side design. The bold look, which she paired with black Louboutin heels, showed off her legs as well as part of her derriere. She wore her platinum blonde hair in loose, waist-length waves that cascaded down her back.
The athlete was joined by her sister Venus Williams, 45, who is a co-chair of the Met Gala this year, along with Beyonce and Nicole Kidman, the latter of which also attended the bash. Fans took to social media to blast Serena's 'horrible' look, with one writing that it 'looks cheap.'
Fan Reactions
'Cheap, tacky, and vulgar,' someone else summed up the outfit. 'Serena... oops, u got a booty cheek hanging out,' another noted. 'Serena looks a mess. Venus looks great,' another chimed in. 'If she has stylists fire them if she doesn't she needs to hire a team because this is a huge miss.' 'F! Big fat F! So much going on, Idk where to start. There was the unfortunate underwear flash getting out of the car. The awkward yank to pull her underwear out of her butt. The unflattering high leg slit. The half-exposed cheek for good measure. Oh Serena….' 'Oh Dear - that's an unfortunate dress.....' someone else added. 'Venus [heart emoji]. Serena not so much. That blondie hair and dress must gooo.' 'What a horrible vulgar sight, inappropriate dress for her age and body shape, just crass and certainly no class. Really awful.' Yet another fan called it 'an unflattering fit.'
Venus Williams and Other Attendees
Serena's sister Venus stunned in a sleeveless beaded black and red gown at Sunday's party. She was joined by her dapper husband Andrea Preti, who wore a dark suit. Other stars at the bash included newly-engaged Zoe Kravitz, 37, Sabrina Carpenter, 26, as well as fashion icon Donatella Versace, 71. This year's exhibit - set to unveil the Met's sprawling new Conde M. Nast Galleries - has been made possible by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 62, and his wife Lauren Sanchez, 56, who are the lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs. Bezos looked sharp in a grey suit and a black button-up shirt as he held hands with his wife while making his way to the pre-Met Gala dinner. Meanwhile, Sanchez was elegant in a dark red jacket and long skirt paired with black heels. The high-flying power couple allegedly paid $10 million for the privilege to hobnob with former Vogue editor-in-chief Wintour, along with a long list of other stars, according to Page Six.
Serena's Met Gala History
Serena often attends the Met Gala and previously co-chaired the event in 2019. She even announced her second pregnancy on the Met Gala red carpet back in 2023. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, falls on the first Monday in May every year. Anna Wintour has reigned supreme as the chairwoman of the Costume Institute benefit, known colloquially as the Met Gala, for over 30 years.
2026 Met Gala Theme and Details
The theme of this year's event - widely considered the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets - is 'Costume Art', while the dress code is 'Fashion Is Art.' The dress code calls on the A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas. The New York City museum will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which will be loosely divided into three categories, including the classical and the nude body, aging and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body. Costume Art will run from May 10, 2026 through January 10, 2027, following the Met Gala on May 4. The 2026 Met Gala marks a major moment because it's the first one since Wintour stepped down as the editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years. Wintour has famously been incredibly hands-on with the Met Gala over the years, and is credited with making it the splashy A-list affair it has become, beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Zendaya and more.
