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New York City is famous for many things—Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building—but none are quite so famous, or at least infamous, as its rats and roaches.
So it was probably only a matter of time before one of the latter stole the show at the annual Met Gala, arguably the city's most high-profile event all year.
It turned out 2023 was the roach's time to shine at Anna Wintour's yearly shindig.
During this year's Met Gala red carpet, it wasn't Rihanna or a Kardashian stealing the show, but rather a cockroach who skittered up the red carpet as flashbulbs exploded all over the place.
And, naturally, social media had an absolute field day.
\u201cA cockroach slays on the Met Gala red carpet\u201d— Vulture (@Vulture) 1682991183
The Met Gala is all about making as big a splash as possible.
The celebrities in attendance certainly followed suit this year, doing controversial late designer Karl Lagerfeld proud with ostentatious sartorial tributes to the fashion icon that were, as always, to die for.
Big names like Gisele Bundchen, Michaela Coel, Ava Max, Pedro Pascal and Hollywood legends like Glennn Close all made huge splashes in over-the-top looks that had the in-person audience and social media alike going cuckoo for the spectacle.
But in the end, nobody is likely to even remember a single one of those people.
Who cares about Kim Kardashian recreating her pearl-dripping Playboy look when there's a cockroach the size of a house cat sashaying down the Met Gala red carpet?
\u201cA cockroach has arrived at the #MetGala. https://t.co/OcPy5ckhQN\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1682991250
Not even Anna Wintour hard-launching her new relationship with British actor Bill Nighy on the red carpet was any competition for the Met Gala cockroach.
Suffice to say, a star was born—and then burned out as quickly as it came.
Yes, as you might guess, no sooner did it make its red carpet debut than the cockroach was put to an untimely end.
\u201cIt is with deep sadness that we must report the #MetGala cockroach was stepped on. #RIP\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1682991250
And if that isn't an apt metaphor for the fickle nature of the fashion and entertainment industries then truly what is?
But while the Met Gala's star may have shone only briefly, its impact will live on forever—in meme form.
\u201ccockroach getting more coverage than some of the celebrities that arrived at tonight's #MetGala\n\nhttps://t.co/1RV01PmILh\u201d— cordelia | FACE | SNOOZE | IIEE\u2077 (@cordelia | FACE | SNOOZE | IIEE\u2077) 1682992145
\u201cThat cockroach at the #MetGala served\u201d— \ud835\udd46 \u211d \ud835\udd3c \ud835\udd43 (@\ud835\udd46 \u211d \ud835\udd3c \ud835\udd43) 1682992407
\u201cthe cockroach enjoying a meal at the #MetGala\u201d— Patr\u00f8nus [lll] (@Patr\u00f8nus [lll]) 1682992210
\u201cthe cockroach on its way to the met gala\u201d— \ud835\ude93\ud835\ude8a\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude8d. (@\ud835\ude93\ud835\ude8a\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude8d.) 1682993304
\u201cclose up of the met gala roach\u201d— M (@M) 1682996552
\u201cbuying a 40 today and pouring some out for the met gala roach\u201d— tonio \u272e (@tonio \u272e) 1683025503
\u201cthe met gala cockroach made more noise than the whole met gala\u201d— surya (@surya) 1683002164
\u201cThe roach said this is still New York City don\u2019t get it twisted\u201d— shan (@shan) 1682991777
\u201crest in pieces met gala roach\u2026we ain\u2019t even find out who you were wearing\u201d— court (@court) 1682995893
Let this be a lesson to us all that it's not the length of our lives that matters but the impact we make while living them.
Thank you, Met Gala Roach, and may you rest in peace.