SICK CALL – Rihanna ‘flew to NYC’ hours before Met Gala with A$AP Rocky but still missed it due to last-minute illness | HO

RIHANNA has revealed why she missed the Met Gala on Monday night, even though she reportedly flew to New York City before the big event.

The singer and longtime partner A$AP Rocky are normally regulars at fashion’s biggest night, even if they often wait until the last minute to arrive.

Rihanna looked healthy at an event in late AprilCredit: Getty

The singer, seen here with ASAP Rocky at the 2021 Met Gala missed this year’s event due to illnessCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Fashion followers and fans often wait throughout the night for Rihanna’s big arrival.

But as Monday’s Gala dragged on, the 36-year-old’s absence became more and more noticeable – until the realization hit that she wouldn’t be attending at all.

Now, a source close to the singer has told People Riri was indeed planning an appearance, but was sidelined by the flu.

The Diamonds singer reportedly tried to push through the illness and even traveled to New York after appearing in Miami Sunday for the F1 Grand Prix.

Her stylist was also seen at the Carlyle Hotel greeting her security team, according to Page Six.

Just days before the Gala, Rihanna teased her appearance, noting she was putting the final touches on her intended look.

“I’m actually just keeping it real simple this year,” she told Extra, revealing she was down to two dress options. “Very simple-ish… compared to everything I’ve ever done.”

Last year, she showed up late as usual, in a massive all-white outfit.

The singer, who was pregnant at the time, was wearing a large Valentino gown that included a covering of fake white flowers over her growing baby bump.

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A long white train came out from under the flowers and expanded around her.

The train alone required at least five people to position.

To make her look even more dramatic, she wore thick white sunglasses with huge diva eyelashes attached to the front.

She was accompanied by her partner and baby daddy A$AP Rocky, who also dressed to impress in a long red kilt with a train that dragged on the floor.

NOT REALLY RIRI

Although Rihanna wasn’t at the Met Gala in person this year, she did make an appearance virtually – and had fans baffled.

Through the magic of AI renderings, Rihanna “walked” the red carpet wearing a stunning cream dress that mirrored a forest setting, keeping with the gala theme Garden of Time.

The fake skirt featured grass and flowers throughout, while her train acted as a patch of grass with pink flowers.

The top of the dress, however, was the star of the show as it was a large, mushroom-like jacket that branched out with tree branches and birds.

The AI-generated images were so convincing that fans flooded X, formerly known as Twitter, with their reactions.

“Omggg? She understood the assignment,” a user said of Rihanna.

“My Riri does not disappoint,” wrote another.

“She always makes a statement. What a fashionista,” a third added.

X has since put disclaimers on the tweets showing their ballgown dress.

The new alert said, “Readers added context they thought people might want to know.”

“This is either AI or digitally altered. Rihanna has, at the time of this post, not yet arrived at the Met Gala,” the message read on the tweet picturing Rihanna.

Rihanna covered her baby bump with a large white dress at the 2023 Met GalaCredit: Getty

Partner A$AP Rocky donned a kilt for the GalaCredit: AP

The two are usually some of the final attendees to arriveCredit: Getty