AceShowbiz - Rihanna showcased her impeccable style as she emerged from a New York City building on Thursday, May 9, days after reportedly missing the Met Gala due to illness. The superstar stepped out while being accompanied by her partner A$AP Rocky.

The singer looked radiant in a sleek black dress, hoodie, and textured jacket, accessorized with a quilted white purse and silver choker necklace.

Despite her absence, Rihanna has been a regular at the Met Gala, making a splash each year with her bold outfits. Her first appearance was in 2007, and she has garnered notoriety for her daring fashion choices, including a daffodil yellow gown in 2015 and a regal ensemble in 2018.

This year's theme, "The Garden of Time", inspired many celebrities to wear extravagant looks inspired by nature on the Met Gala red carpet. However, Rihanna's absence was notable. An insider revealed that she had been planning to attend but had to cancel at the last minute due to the flu.

While Rihanna's presence was missed, the event proceeded with other high-profile attendees such as Zendaya Coleman and Jennifer Lopez. The focus of the evening remained on the celebration of fashion and the Costume Institute's spring exhibition, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." The exhibition showcases centuries of fashion history, exploring the connection between time and natural beauty.

Despite social media claims to the contrary, Rihanna did not attend the 2024 Met Gala. The Facebook post featuring an image of her in a floral dress was flagged as misinformation, with analysis revealing the photo had likely been generated using artificial intelligence.