Met Gala 2025 theme sparks ‘appropriation’ backlash: ‘Pray no one shows up in blackface’

Next spring’s Met Gala may be canceled.

Twisted eyebrows and tongues were wagging all over fashion after Vogue revealed the selection of what some found to be a potentially problematic theme for the 2025 event.

“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the magazine said in an Instagram post, “will take as its theme the Black dandy, examining the importance of dress and style in the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.

LeBron James will serve as honorary chairman. Co-chairs will include Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Vogue’s Anna Wintour.

Armchair fashion critics were quick to offer their opinions in the comments section — and elsewhere on the social media platform — on the stiletto heels of the surprise announcement.

“Sounds like a recipe for appropriation disaster… Stylists, study!” sighed an amateur scribbling.

“Am I the only one nervous about this?” another shared. “A good topic, but let’s hope no one gets the cultures.”

The vision for one of fashion’s biggest nights is said to have originated with Monica L. Miller, a professor and chair of Africana studies at Barnard College and Columbia University, who wrote the book, “Slaves of Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.”

On the weighty subject matter, she situates black dandyism as an aesthetic and political construct, examining the figure of the black dandy from its earliest depictions in 18th-century art to modern appearances on the runway and in movies.

Miller described the emergence of black dandyism as a concept that would “illustrate how black people went from being enslaved and stylized as luxuries, acquired like any other sign of wealth and status, to autonomous individuals of self-fashions that are global trends”.

Vogue stated that the exhibition accompanying the event will include clothing, paintings, photographs and videos – all exploring the style of black men.

Despite apparent efforts to mainstream black fashion, many expressed fear that the well-intentioned effort could easily go awry — as the biggest names in American pop culture potentially misrepresent the concept.

“Thank you…please no one shows up in blackface,” commented one worried fan.

“Too long to get this thread right, I wonder how other ethnicities will style this and not be culturally appropriate or disrespectful/stereotypical,” asked another.

“It saddens me that there will be very few African American fashion houses able to showcase their art,” someone else opined.

However, many said they couldn’t wait to see their favorite trendy dishes served up to the trendy looks.

“Zendaya finna eat this,” one joked, calling the topic “exciting” “we deserve to see.”

“This is excellent. This is classic. This is history,” gushed another.

“Black style throughout history has had an immeasurable impact on the identity and commercialism of global fashion. This Met Gala theme is long overdue,” another applauded.

Next year will mark the boys’ first exclusive appearance since 2003’s Men in Skirts.

The Met Gala will return to Manhattan on May 5, 2025, and the dress code will be announced in early 2025.

Museum visitors will have the opportunity to see the Superfine exhibition from May 6 to October 26, 2025.