Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

The Twittersphere has caught fire with hot takes on a fake Met Gala seating chart posted by Instagram account @_metgala2021 (unaffiliated with the actual Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Though the page — dedicated to predictions surrounding the upcoming extravaganza and celebrity red carpet moments of yore — aggressively hinted that the chart is pure speculation ("nothing is confirmed"), netizens took the graphic as gospel. The rest is viral history.

Many reacted unfavorably to the fact that @_metgala2021 "invited" influencers such as Addison Rae, Charli D'Amelio, and Emma Chamberlain — "what the fuck are tiktokkers doing there?" the owner of a Timothée Chalamet fan account commented. Even more questionably, James Charles, the subject of multiple grooming allegations, also made the cut, sparking additional criticism.

Though the seating chart is unofficial in all senses of the word, it may be realer than you think. Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri will serve as one of this year's Met Gala honorary chairs, a fact that makes @_metgala2021's fiction—namely, its inclusion of online personalities—appear at least somewhat rooted in reality.

Earlier this month, Page Six spoke to an anonymous publicist who said the Gala has "gone from super prestigious to [being] full of influencers." Another rep added, "Facebook and Instagram have taken so many tables, and that’s put a lot of people off going," seemingly referencing Mosseri's grip on the event.

Considering that going viral on TikTok is now a very real way to snag front row invites to Fashion Week and luxury fashion campaigns, it isn't entirely farfetched that Anna Wintour — icy overseer of the fundraiser-meets-red-carpet-photo-opp — would deem influencers of the D'Amelio ilk suitable to attend. Let's not forget she invited Charles, pre-allegations, in 2019.

Let's also not forget that this year's Gala theme is "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," which begs the question: what's more American than the advent of the influencer?

We Recommend
  • UNDERCOVER Enters Its Second Golden Age of Great Outdoor Gear
    • Style
  • Thought Corteiz's Brilliant Air Max 95 Collab Was Finished? Think Again
    • Sneakers
  • An Ultra-Rare North Face Jacket Ripped From the '90s, Remastered & Perfected
    • Style
  • Only The North Face Purple Label Can Turn Old Outerwear Into Fresh Masterpieces
    • Style
  • INVINCIBLE Went to North Face's Past for Clean Outdoor Gear of the Future
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • The All-New Low-Top Jordan Skate Shoe Is Surprisingly Slick
  • Converse Went & Made Its Own Pretty Ballet Stomper
  • Nike's "Aged" Air Force 1 Sneaker Has No Business Looking This Delectable
  • At 90 Years Old, This Japanese Bag Brand Is Still Perfecting Its Classics
  • American Prep Gone Military Tough
  • After Flattening the Sneaker Landscape, Miu Miu & New Balance Turn to Tennis