ENTERTAINMENT
LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton on board for 2025 Met Gala: what roles will they perform?
The Formula 1 driver says he is “honored” to be involved in the next edition of the Met Gala which is themed: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”.
A self-confessed fashion aficionado, Lewis Hamilton combines his love of style and quality tailoring with his exploits out on the world’s top Formula One circuits. The British driver is a regular, front row VIP at the glitziest international fashion events such as Paris Fashion Week where he rubs shoulders with the industry’s top movers and shakers.
So it comes as little surprise that Hamilton has been invited to take part in the next edition of MET Gala - the annual, exclusive invitation-only event presided over by Vogue editor Anna Wintour. The Met Gala takes place every year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on the first Monday in May - which next year, falls on 5 May 2025.
Lewis Hamilton, a regular attendee at the Met Gala
The MET Gala is a celebration of fashion which, since 1973, has followed a theme. In a post on X, Hamilton expressed his excitement at being invited to be one of the co-chairs for the May 2025 gala and gave a big hint about next year’s theme.
Drawing inspiration from Monica L Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the exhibit will feature garments, paintings, photographs, and more - all exploring the indelible style of Black men in the context of dandyism, from the 18th-century through present day.
“I’m beyond honored to be one of the co-chairs for next year’s Met Gala, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Hamilton wrote.
In this week’s press conference, he added: “This theme speaks to me deeply. When I started my career I never imagined what I might be capable of beyond my sport. The pressure to conform holds so many people back. Growing up as the only Black kid on the track, so often that pressure got to me.
“Expressing myself creatively was and still is my freedom from that conformity. For Black people across the diaspora, fashion is self-preservation. Fashion is resilience, and I can’t wait to further explore and amplify our underrepresented voices. Thank you to the @metcostumeinstitute for the platform to uplift Black creatives on this scale.”
What do Met Gala co-chairs do?
The Mercedes driver will be joined by fellow co-chairs: A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Colman Domingo alongside chair Anna Wintour and honorary chair LeBron James.
Lewis and his fellow co-chairs will have various responsibilities on the night. For a start they set the tone for the dress code. They also help to promote the event by giving interviews and publishing posts on their social media accounts. Some will lend a hand with the guest list of 450 invitees, and provide input in selecting items on the menu and the decor. Other duties include helping with fundraising side of the night, and welcoming guests.
Hamilton has attended the Met Gala numerous times - as have several other fashionista sports stars such as Serena and Venus Williams, Simone Biles, Brittney Griner, David Beckham, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook and WNBA rookie Angel Reese.