Kylie Jenner Shares Painful Met Gala Shoe Moment After Walking Red Carpet Without Timothée Chalamet

Kylie Jenner’s 2025 Met Gala Look

The 2025 Met Gala featured its usual array of fashion triumphs and controversies, but Kylie Jenner’s experience at fashion’s biggest night stood out for a particularly painful reason. The beauty mogul and reality TV billionaire made a stunning solo appearance on the red carpet, wearing a head-to-toe Ferragamo ensemble for the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” themed event.

Kylie Jenner’s Met Gala outfit was meticulously crafted under the direction of Ferragamo’s creative director, Maximilian Davis. The look was completed with elegant black pointed-toe pumps that would later become the source of her fashion emergency. While Kylie’s ensemble received mixed reviews from fashion critics regarding its adherence to the gala’s theme, her commitment to the look was indisputably impressive.

As one of the most photographed attendees of the evening, Kylie navigated the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art steps with apparent ease. However, the behind-the-scenes reality of her fashionable appearance would later be revealed to her millions of Instagram followers in a candid moment that humanized the often glamorized world of high fashion.

The Painful Footwear Choice: Adhesive Shoes

Following advice from Ferragamo’s creative director Maximilian Davis, Kylie took the unconventional step of using adhesive to secure her designer shoes to her feet. This technique, while ensuring her footwear remained perfectly positioned throughout the evening’s events, created an unexpected challenge when it came time to remove the shoes.

Kylie Jenner showcased her Ferragamo design at the 2025 Met Gala. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

In a surprisingly candid moment shared on her Instagram Stories, Kylie documented the painful process of removing the adhered shoes with the assistance of her team. “My feet are stuck in the shoes!” she exclaimed in the video, followed by an audible “ow!” as the adhesive was separated from her skin. This rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the less glamorous aspects of high fashion resonated with fans, highlighting the physical discomfort celebrities sometimes endure for their red carpet appearances.

Fortunately, Kylie quickly reassured her concerned followers with a follow-up post showing her feet “okay!!!!” after the removal process. Impressively, she even managed to maintain her toenail polish intact through the ordeal—a small victory in what must have been an uncomfortable end to her evening.

Timothée Chalamet’s Absence Explained

Kylie Jenner’s solo appearance at the Met Gala prompted immediate speculation among fans about the whereabouts of her boyfriend, actor Timothée Chalamet. The couple, who have been romantically linked since early 2025, are typically a highlight whenever they appear together at major events.

While Kylie was navigating the Met Gala red carpet and later dealing with her shoe situation, Chalamet appeared to be enjoying a far more relaxed evening. The acclaimed actor opted to skip fashion’s biggest night in favor of watching his beloved New York Knicks basketball team. Chalamet, a well-known Knicks supporter, shared a photo via his Instagram Stories showing himself watching the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Knicks secured a dramatic 108-105 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics.

This explanation for Chalamet’s absence—choosing a basketball game over one of fashion’s most prestigious events—offered fans a glimpse into the actor’s priorities and authentic personality. His decision to watch the game rather than attend the gala also aligns with his often casual, less conventional approach to celebrity culture.

Relationship Rumors and Speculation

Despite the straightforward explanation for Timothée’s absence, the combination of Kylie attending the Met Gala solo and reports of her spending the preceding weekend in Miami with friend Hailey Bieber triggered a wave of speculation about potential trouble in the relationship. Social media quickly filled with theories and concerns from fans about the status of the couple.

Kylie Jenner showcased her full Ferragamo look at the Met Gala. (Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)

Adding fuel to the rumor mill, Kylie’s Miami weekend companion Hailey Bieber also attended the Met Gala without her spouse, Justin Bieber. This coincidence led some fans to theorize that the two friends had been “breakup bonding” during their Florida trip. However, sources close to both couples have indicated that this speculation is unfounded.

The reality appears much more mundane—Kylie and Hailey were simply enjoying a relaxing pre-Met Gala weekend together, preparing for the high-pressure event. Their friendship has been a constant for years, predating both of their current relationships, and their Miami trip appears to have been nothing more than friends spending quality time together before a major social engagement.

Kylie’s Commitment to Fashion

The adhesive shoe incident highlights a broader truth about Kylie Jenner’s approach to fashion: she takes her red carpet appearances extremely seriously and is willing to endure discomfort for the sake of a perfect look. This dedication to fashion has been a consistent theme throughout her career in the spotlight.

Beyond the adhesive technique that caused her post-gala pain, Kylie has historically embraced physically demanding fashion choices, from corseted gowns to restrictive footwear. Her willingness to document the less glamorous aspects of these fashion commitments on social media provides her audience with a rare authentic glimpse into the realities of celebrity style.

Fashion experts have noted that Kylie’s willingness to share these moments—like her painful shoe removal—represents a refreshing transparency in an industry often criticized for portraying an unrealistic standard of effortless perfection. By documenting both the glamour and the discomfort, she provides a more complete picture of what high fashion entails at its highest levels.

The 2025 Met Gala Theme and Reception

The 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrated the influence and innovation of Black designers and style traditions in fashion history. The Metropolitan Museum’s accompanying exhibition showcased the often overlooked contributions of Black artisans, designers, and cultural influences on global fashion.

As with any Met Gala, celebrity interpretations of the theme varied widely, with some attendees receiving praise for thoughtful adherence to the concept while others faced criticism for missing the mark. Fashion critics offered mixed reviews of Kylie’s Ferragamo look in this context, with some questioning how well it engaged with the specific cultural elements being celebrated.

A profile view of Kylie Jenner’s Ferragamo ensemble at the Met Gala. (Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)

The gala, co-chaired by prominent figures in fashion and entertainment, continued its tradition of raising funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute while serving as a showcase for boundary-pushing fashion. Despite the various critiques of individual looks, the event succeeded in generating important conversations about representation, attribution, and cultural appreciation in the fashion world.

Other Notable Celebrity Fashion Moments

While Kylie’s shoe situation created a memorable post-gala moment, the 2025 Met Gala featured numerous other noteworthy fashion statements and controversies. Several celebrities received both praise and criticism for their interpretations of the “Superfine” theme, with social media discussions focusing on the various approaches to engaging with the cultural significance of the exhibition.

As with Kylie and Hailey Bieber, several other celebrities attended without their partners, leading to a broader conversation about the pressures and expectations placed on celebrity couples at high-profile events. Fashion observers noted that the increased comfort with solo appearances might reflect a healthier understanding of individual autonomy within relationships in the public eye.

Despite the various controversies and speculations, the most positive takeaway from Kylie’s Met Gala experience was that her painful moment related only to her innovative footwear choice and not to her personal life. Fans expressed relief that, adhesive shoes aside, the beauty mogul appears to be thriving both professionally and personally.

Kylie Jenner’s Met Gala appearance, from her carefully crafted Ferragamo look to her candid shoe removal video, represents the fascinating intersection of high fashion, celebrity culture, and social media authenticity that has made her one of the most influential figures in contemporary popular culture. Whether she’s walking a red carpet or sharing a vulnerable moment with fans, her ability to balance aspiration with relatability continues to define her unique position in the celebrity landscape.