People baffled as picture of Katy Perry ‘at Met Gala’ goes viral despite her skipping it

Katy Perry has broken her silence on her supposed Met Gala 2025 appearance despite not actually attending the Manhattan-based fashion event.

On Monday (May 5), The Costume Institute opened its doors for its exclusive, annual fundraising event organized by Vogue magazine.

This year, the iconic styling celebration, commonly known as The Met Gala, was themed around the museum’s spring collection, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.

Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams were all appointed co-chairs.

Nicki Minaj (who fans believe subtly shaded the event), Megan Thee Stallion and Rihanna (who used the moment to announce she was pregnant with her third child) were just some of the stars to mount the Metropolitan Museum steps.

‘Espresso’ hitmaker Sabrina Carpenter also arrived on the scene in a custom Louis Vuitton look. She was followed by Simone Biles, whose Harbison Studio gown has raised eyebrows.

One woman who opted not to attend the Met Gala 2025 this year was 40-year-old Katy Perry — but images online may convince you otherwise.

The ‘California Girls’ singer, who has attended nine of the invite-only events since making her debut in 2009, is currently in the midst of staging her fifth concert tour, The Lifetimes Tour.

Presumably, some fans were upset that she’d missed out on the major fashion moment, so they took matters into their own hands by virtually creating images of the star walking the blue carpet.

AI-generated images of Katy Perry 'walking' the Met Gala carpet have gone viral (Instagram/@metgalaofficial_)

These artificial intelligence (AI) images picture Perry cutting a cool figure in a cut-out pinstripe blazer and black, latex maxi skirt.

Hours after the pictures went viral across social media, the pop star herself has addressed them.

“Couldn’t make it to the MET, I’m on The Lifetimes Tour (see you in Houston tomorrow IRL),” she wrote on Tuesday (May 6).

“P.s. this year I was actually with my mom so she’s safe from the bots but I’m praying for the rest of y’all.”

Fans of Perry have taken to social media to have their say, with one writing: “Whoever does Katy Perry’s AI Met Gala fits eats every time.”

A second commented: “One thing about me is I will fall for AI Katy Perry at the Met every time.”

“This AI ate but I better see real you at The Met next year sis or we fightin,” another fan replied.

Fake images of the singer at the Met Gala last year also went viral (X)

A fourth responded: “Babe no one is safe.”

Perry was also a victim of AI last year when fabricated images showing her donning a maxi floral dress went viral, claiming she was at the Met Gala.

The ‘Teenage Dream’ favourite addressed the fake photos last year by sharing a screenshot of a text exchange between herself and her mom.

“Ha Feather! Didn’t know you went to the Met,” the intimate message reads. “What a gorgeous gown, you look like the Rose Parade, you are your own float lol.”

In response, Perry wrote: “lol mom the AI got you too, BEWARE!”

Katy Perry's mom was also fooled by last year's AI attempts (Instagram/@katyperry)

Perry’s Lifetimes Tour is her first set of live shows in seven years. The anticipated outing commenced on April 23, 2025, in Mexico City and is set to hit venues in Houston, Kansas City and Dallas before heading to Australia.

Following her 15 Down Under dates, she will return to the United States for a five-night run in Phoenix, Anaheim, Inglewood, San Francisco and Seattle before heading to Canada.

Perry will hit Detroit on August 3 before taking over Boston’s TD Garden on August 8. She’ll then star in Baltimore, New York City and Miami before completing South American and European legs.

The Lifetimes Tour is set to conclude at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Park, United Arab Emirates, on December 7.