Met Gala 2025: Debutant in Controversial Dress Steals Spotlight, Surpasses Zendaya, Rihanna, Shah Rukh, Kylie

Met Gala,2025, held at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, brought its usual mix of fashion and fame. Celebrities from across the world turned up in style. Hollywood A-listers, K-pop stars, and even a few Bollywood legends. But among all the familiar faces, it was a first-timer who ended up dominating the headlines.

Lisa, the 28-year-old Thai singer best known for being part of BLACKPINK, made her much-anticipated Met Gala debut — and it paid off. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she topped the official “Media Impact Value” (MIV) rankings released by Launchmetrics, generating $21.3 million in media buzz across social platforms. That’s more than Zendaya, who came in at $14.3 million, and even Rihanna, who followed with $13.5 million.

Lisa wasn’t the only surprise on the list. Thai actor Freen (Sarocha Chankimha) took second place with $19.5 million, while BLACKPINK’s Jennie followed at $17.6 million. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, also a debutant this year, led the men’s chart with $19 million — making it to the overall top three.

Big Moment, Bigger Reaction

Lisa has been a huge name in K-pop since 2016, but this year has seen her break further into global pop culture — helped by her appearance in the new season of HBO’s The White Lotus. Her Met Gala outing was a major crossover moment, but it didn’t come without controversy.

Wearing a custom Louis Vuitton outfit, Lisa drew some heat online for a design element that featured an image of civil rights legend Rosa Parks on her underwear. The move didn’t sit well with many, and after the backlash, Lisa issued a public apology. Still, the controversy likely added to her online visibility — and may have helped push her to the top of the rankings.

While many of the night’s biggest names played it safe, Lisa’s mix of bold fashion, rising stardom, and public scrutiny made her the name everyone was talking about — for better or worse.