The 2022 Met Gala noticed tons of our favourite stars strolling the pink carpet and exhibiting off their very own takes on the night time’s “Gilded Glamour” costume code. There was at the least one very notable celeb lacking, although: Regina King. The Oscar winner was one of many cochairs of this yr’s gala, together with Blake Vigorous, Ryan Reynolds, and Lin-Manuel Miranda (plus honorary cochairs Tom Ford, Adam Mosseri, and Anna Wintour). King at all times stuns on the pink carpet, but it surely’s comprehensible that she would miss this yr’s gala after a current private tragedy.
In January 2022, King’s 26-year-old son, Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide. “Our household is devastated on the deepest stage by the lack of Ian,” King stated in an announcement to Individuals. “He’s such a vibrant mild who cared so deeply in regards to the happiness of others. Our household asks for respectful consideration throughout this non-public time. Thanks.” Whereas King has not made any public assertion about her determination to skip the pink carpet forward of the gala, it will completely make sense for her to take a step away from the highlight as she offers together with her current loss.
King did make vital contributions to the exhibit that this yr’s Met Gala is celebrating. The Costume Institute’s exhibit, “In America: An Anthology of Vogue,” is the companion to final yr’s “In America: A Lexicon of Vogue.” The exhibit options period-specific rooms, depicting scenes of life (and vogue) from American historical past. In response to USA Immediately, King labored on the Richmond Room, which depicts the lives of rich Virginians within the early nineteenth century. The room options the work of Black designer Fannie Criss Payne, the daughter of previously enslaved dad and mom and a popular native dressmaker who was identified for stitching a reputation tape into her garment to establish her work.
The selection of Payne’s work, for King, was to “painting the ability and energy Fannie Criss Payne exudes by her awe-inspiring story and beautiful clothes.” Whereas we’re sorry to not see King on this yr’s pink carpet, she’s undoubtedly leaving her mark on the occasion in additional methods than one!
