The Met Gala is known as one of the most exclusive and well-known events, located in New York City, and held as a way to fund raise and mark the annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

The Met Gala typically features a variety of famous and prestigious celebrities who often showcase designer outfits at the Gala.
This year, seven social media influencers were invited to the event. The influencers, Addison Rae, Dixie D’Amelio, Madison Beer, Emma Chamberlain, Jackie Aina, Eugene Lee Yang, and Nikkie de Jager (NikkieTutorials), have been receiving backlash for attending an event so commonly thought of as an event for A-list celebrities.
However, as social media becomes more popular and widespread, and as social media stars become household names, one question remains. Are social media influencers considered celebrities?
Social media influencers such as Emma Chamberlain, Madison Beer, and Dixie D’Amelio, are making incredible progress in diverse careers such as singing, acting, modeling, and business.
Nonetheless, they are considered social media influencers because they became famous through platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. For example, Addison Rae became famous for making dances on TikTok, and Emma Chamberlain rose to fame by making YouTube vlogs of her day.
They should not have been invited to the Met Gala. Though these stars may be completely deserving of the invitation, their arrival at the Met Gala presents a shift in the prestigious event.
This shift separates the old idea of exclusively inviting high-class celebrities, to the new concept of welcoming in “famous people.” The invitation of influencers also causes many people to take The Gala less seriously, and it may cause a decline in viewers in the upcoming years.
When invited to such an esteemed event, an immediate reaction is often excitement and eagerness to attend the event. However, social media influencers are faced with a difficult decision because they will likely receive backlash despite their choice.
Social media influencers being present at the Met Gala will negatively impact the appearance of The Gala itself. However, these stars did not ask for fame, recognition, or an invitation to The Gala, and they were instead given those things by the public.
It is hard to draw the line between celebrities and social media stars; however, this new concept that social media stars may exist as both influencers and celebrities may become common.