Grammy Award winners Doechii and Bebe Rexha made headlines during the 2025 Met Gala, each facing their own unique challenges amidst the glitz and glamour of the event.
Doechii, who made her Met Gala debut on May 5, 2025, in a stunning Louis Vuitton ensemble designed by Pharrell, found herself in hot water after a clip surfaced on social media. In the video, she was seen demanding more umbrellas to shield her look from the prying eyes of fans and paparazzi. "I'm ready ... no, stop, give me another umbrella, now," she can be heard saying, clearly frustrated as she was blocked by an umbrella and a rolling box made from a clothing rack. "And another one. Who has an umbrella? I need four f*** umbrellas, because they're gonna try to stick their f*** cameras in here," she continued, her exasperation evident.
The backlash was swift, with critics accusing her of mistreating her team. However, Doechii took to TikTok to address the situation with humor, sharing a video set to the song "Easy" by The Commodores. Overlaid text read, "God forbid a girl needs more umbrellas." In the caption, she expressed, "All jokes aside, this was such an overstimulating night but I wouldn't trade it for the world!" She went on to celebrate her team, saying, "This was the night we all dreamed of and my team killed it (umbrellas aside) 😭🥴."
Speaking to Vogue at the event, Doechii elaborated on her look, stating, "I worked closely with Pharrell. We were heavily inspired by Monica Miller's book and her exhibit. We studied a little bit on this character, Julius Soubise, which really stood out to me. And I felt very inspired by him tonight." The theme for this year's Met Gala was "Tailored for You," a tribute to menswear and the exhibition's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which opens to the public on May 10, 2025.
Meanwhile, Bebe Rexha faced a different kind of scrutiny when Azealia Banks, who was not at the gala, took to social media to criticize her appearance. Banks commented on a photo of Rexha in a custom Christian Siriano gown, suggesting that her look was the result of hormonal issues: "Sis gives me — hormonal birth control implant or something. It’s giving implanon/nuvaring she needs removed or depo shot that needs to stop happening."
In response, Rexha shared a heartfelt revelation about her health struggles, including her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and a recent pregnancy loss. In a now-deleted tweet, she wrote, "I got pregnant, and it didn’t work out." She expressed her frustration with body-shaming comments, stating, "I’ve been carrying that pain in silence. I never owed anyone that truth, but maybe now you’ll think twice before commenting on ... anyone’s body."
Rexha continued her response with a second tweet, encouraging Banks to seek professional help for her apparent issues. "Lexapro worked great for me," she tweeted, suggesting that therapy and medication could benefit Banks. "Healing looks good on everyone. Try it." Hours later, Banks doubled down on her comments, linking Rexha's use of Lexapro to her pregnancy loss, stating, "I def had a miscarriage on SSRI’s, too," and advised her to "get off the SSRI’s period."
This year's Met Gala was not just a showcase of fashion but also a platform for personal stories and struggles. It featured a star-studded lineup including Janelle Monáe, Zendaya, Diana Ross, and Rihanna, who revealed her third pregnancy at the event. The gala was co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour, with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James serving as an honorary co-chair despite being unable to attend due to injury.
The evening was a celebration of creativity and expression, but it also highlighted the pressures and challenges that come with fame. Both Doechii and Rexha's experiences serve as reminders of the human side of the entertainment industry, where public figures navigate personal struggles while under intense scrutiny.
As the Met Gala continues to evolve, its themes and the stories shared by its attendees reflect broader societal issues, from mental health awareness to the complexities of identity and representation in fashion. The upcoming exhibition, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," promises to further explore these themes, inviting visitors to engage with the rich history of Black fashion and its impact on contemporary style.
With the Met Gala setting the stage for discussions around body positivity, mental health, and the pressures of public life, both Doechii and Bebe Rexha have sparked important conversations that resonate far beyond the red carpet.
