Here Are The Best Memes From The 2023 Met Gala

The 2023 Met Gala kicked off in New York last night, and this year, the theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” celebrating the late designer’s work and legacy; the internet quickly went to work judging the elaborate outfits, cracking jokes and making memes.

Guests Who Weren’t There

The earliest memes of the night did the obvious, inserting characters from pop culture onto those iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Someone even inserted the fetish cube that’s been making the rounds on Twitter lately, a deeply uncomfortable image that went viral, showing a man seemingly on the brink of suffocation for the sake of kink.

Jason Derulo Falls Down The Stairs, Again

During the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, a mystery man wearing a white suit took a dramatic tumble down the stairs, and for whatever reason, the internet decided that the man looked like Jason Derulo. The image was posted during the 2015 Met Gala with the caption that Derulo had fallen, sparking an enduring tradition; to this day, the image is still reposted for every single major red carpet event.

This meme has real staying power, and is still going strong in 2023, with many Twitter users posting the image, for the sake of tradition, or making new spins on the joke.

The meme has endured so long that it almost counts as misinformation; there have already been several headlines clarifying that the “Savage Love” star did not actually fall down the stairs during the 2023 Met Gala, and Derulo himself has even taken the time to dispel the rumor: “Lmao I’m at rehearsal in L.A. Fuq y’all! Lol,” he said on Instagram at the time.

The Met Gala Cockroach

Amongst the glitz and glamour of the night, there was a touch of dirt, as a cockroach was filmed walking on those iconic steps.

The cockroach enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame before meeting an untimely end, having presumably been crushed by a million-dollar stiletto heel. There wasn’t really enough time for the cockroach meme to gain traction, but the creature was mourned on Twitter.

Not One To Judge

Many viewers posted self-aware memes, mocking their own outfits as they prepared to mercilessly judge the rich and famous.

Choupette The Cat

Carl Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette, proved the real star of the night, as several celebrities paid homage to the fluffy white kitty (although, Choupette herself didn’t make the event).

Doja Cat and Jared Leto both dressed up as Choupette, with Doja using some freaky prosthetics and Leto investing in a frighteningly realistic fursuit.

Choupette will surely go down in history as one of the most spoilt cats who ever lived; Lagerfeld made no secret of his devotion to her, telling Harper’s Bazaar that the cat ate meals of croquette and paté, flew on private jets, and even had her own iPad, for some reason.

Doja Cat really dedicated herself to the bit, meowing in response to questions. One hilariously awkward interview, in which Doja keeps indicating that she’s about to give a real answer, only to meow, instantly went viral.

Lil Nas X wore the most eye-catching outfit of the night, seemingly dressed as Choupette, if the cat was crossed with a clawed demon and glittery fairy.

The rapper constantly posted selfies throughout the night, offering a candid look at the stars beyond the posed, professional shots.

Calm Before The Storm

The gaudy display of Hollywood’s wealth and opulence coincided with the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) announcing a strike.

A clip of Amanda Seyfried discussing the impending strike went viral, with the actress celebrated for throwing her support behind the striking writers before the official announcement, bluntly stating: “Everything changed with streaming and everyone should be compensated for their work. It’s f**king easy. I don’t get it.”