Azealia Banks' Shakira Met Gala Remark Goes Viral

Newsweek

06-05-2025

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Shakira's Met Gala look has sparked criticism from rapper Azealia Banks.
Newsweek reached out to Shakira's representative via email for comment.
The Context
The Met Gala, a charity event for The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, was a star-studded affair on Monday in New York City. Celebrities including Sydney Sweeney, Demi Moore, Jodie Turner-Smith, Whoopi Goldberg, Zendaya, Doja Cat, Tyson Beckford, Nicki Minaj, Cynthia Erivo, Sabrina Carpenter, Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz, and more walked the red carpet.
Rihanna also revealed she's pregnant with her third child with rapper and Met Gala co-chair A$AP Rocky. The We Found Love singer and Rocky—whose real name is Rakim Mayers—are already parents to two sons: RZA and Riot, born in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Other Met Gala co-chairs include actor Colman Domingo, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, singer and record producer Pharrell Williams and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
Shakira attends the 2025 Met Gala celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025 in New York City. In the inset image, Azealia Banks performs onstage at the...
Shakira attends the 2025 Met Gala celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025 in New York City. In the inset image, Azealia Banks performs onstage at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 10, 2015 in Indio, California. Morefor The Met Museum/Vogue; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
What To Know
On Monday, Banks took to X, formerly Twitter, to call out Shakira's Met Gala dress. The Hips Don't Lie singer wore a pink gown with a voluminous train by designer Prabal Gurung.
"Shakira I love you down but the category was not quiceañera [sic]," the 33-year-old wrote.
Merriam-Webster defines "quinceañera" as a "celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday that is traditionally observed in Latin American cultures to mark her transition to adulthood."
At the time of publication, Banks' post racked up more than 3 million views, 68,000 likes and 582 comments.
In addition to Shakira, Banks also shared her opinion on other Met Gala looks.
Former vice president Kamala Harris attended her first-ever Met Gala—the most high-profile event she's been to since losing the presidential election to Donald Trump.
"This is the best Kamala ever looked," Banks said. "I just wish she would stop tweezing her own eye brows and match her natural hair to the color of the half wig."
"Onika is a beauty queenT," Banks said of rapper Nicki Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty. "But yes I hate this bra it's giving nursing bra."
"Best look for me across the board. I really really like this look Rih is in the most. This photo is VERY ICONIC," she said of Rihanna, who was photographed walking around New York City ahead of the event. "'Fertile Myrtle,'" she added.
Banks often shares her outspoken opinions on social media and previously called president Trump "fat."
What People Are Saying
In the comments of Banks' Shakira post, many fans agreed with the 212 singer.
X user @jpguillenz wrote: "Azealia is almost always right, this is one of those moments."
@d1xnx1d replied: "Yeah this is awful."
@gescol chimed in: "Her stylist needs to be fired. I love her but gosh she always looks so BORING."
Others, meanwhile, defended Shakira.
X user @sugurufeetlover said: "that absolutely does not look like a quinceañera dress."
@AICounselDallas added: "you are so jelly [jealous]. she looks marvelous."
@ika_hi8 shared: "She is the Queen, she can do whatever she wants."
What Happens Next
A date has not yet been confirmed for the 2026 Met Gala.