Why BTS’ Jimin and Suga Skipped the 2023 Met Gala

To the disappointment of A.R.M.Y fans everywhere, neither BTS’ Jimin or Suga made their Met Gala debut tonight despite rumors they would attend. (They were both in town leading up to the highly-anticipated event, leading fans to speculate they would appear on the Met steps.)

The red carpet came and passed, and neither K-pop star graced the cameras with their presence. While they didn’t give any reason for their absence, Suga has been performing for days in the New York area for his Agust D “D-Day” tour, including on Saturday, April 29. His decision to take a break to rest is completely understandable—especially as he is performing again soon, with a show scheduled in Illinois in May 3.

Plus, he’s the scheduled guest star on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon tonight.

Jimin also posted on his Instagram a day ago to show he supported Suga at his concert in Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Saturday.

And Suga shared Instagrams of what he had been up to recently in New York City. No Met Gala red carpet this time, but plenty of other special moments, including an NBA game:

Jimin was in New York to attend Tiffany & Co.’s Fifth Avenue store reopening last week. He is an ambassador for Dior and Tiffany & Co, meaning his future attendance at the Met Gala is anything but impossible.

The same goes for Suga, who is an ambassador for Valentino. No member of BTS has ever attended the Met Gala; Suga or Jimin would’ve been the first if they appeared tonight.

Jimin and Suga weren’t the only K-pop stars falsely rumored to attend tonight’s Met Gala, though. Blackpink’s Rosé was also expected to show. Jennie was the only one of the four K-pop stars rumored to attend to actually go. Her appearance makes perfect sense given she’s a Chanel ambassador, and the gala honored the house’s longtime designer, the late Karl Lagerfeld.