'Are You Kidding Me': The Most Buzzed-About Met Gala Guest Was an Uninvited Cockroach The bug made its debut on the famed Met stairs Monday night.

By Emily Rella Edited by Jessica Thomas

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

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Monday night saw hundreds of Hollywood's biggest stars step out in Manhattan for the 2023 Met Gala, which honored the late Karl Lagerfeld for his contributions to the fashion world and beyond.

The red carpet, which rolls out for the event every year on the first Monday in May, garners headlines because guests typically don over-the-top looks based on an annual theme.

But this year's most buzzed-about guest was uninvited and didn't even bother to show up in costume — a cockroach.

Photographer Kevin Mazur first noticed the bug moseying up the stairs before Variety confirmed minutes later that the roach had tragically been stepped on.

Many took to social media to honor the short-lived life of the little bug and its show-stealing walk on the carpet, a true symbol of New York City.

One of last year's most notable Met Gala guests was Elon Musk, who used the opportunity to talk about his goals and hopes for Twitter, which he was in the process of buying at the time.

"I'm definitely on the warpath, so if somebody's operating a bot or troll on me then I'm definitely their enemy," Musk told red carpet host La La Anthony last year. Musk was accompanied by his mother, Maye Musk. The billionaire did not attend this year.

Although guests must be approved by event organizer and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, tickets to get inside the gala, which benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, are pricey.

Met Gala tickets reportedly begin at $35,000, while tables can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $300,000. Brands and designers typically host celebrities and other A-listers at their tables.

It's unclear whether or not the cockroach paid its dues before stepping out on the carpet.

Wintour has raised an estimated $200 million for the Costume Institute as of 2021.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

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