The Baddest Feud in Fashion: Inside Rihanna’s Decade-Long, Scorched-Earth Campaign to Ban the Kardashian-Jenner Empire from the Met Gala
The Met Gala is arguably the most exclusive event on the global social calendar, where access is power and an invitation is a crown. For years, the Kardashian-Jenner family has commanded the red carpet, securing their place as fashion royalty. But now, a bombshell report has surfaced, alleging that one of the most powerful women in the world—Rihanna—is working to dethrone them, orchestrating a complete and definitive ban on the entire clan from the 2025 Met Gala.
This is not a petty tiff; it’s the stunning climax of a decade-long, deeply personal feud between Rihanna and Kendall Jenner, one that has been simmering through passive-aggressive shade, career sabotage, and a dramatic love triangle involving A$AP Rocky. The conflict has now moved from social media to the executive suite of fashion’s biggest night, where influence is weaponized to settle the score for good.
The Power Play: A$AP Rocky’s Role and the Alleged Deal
The fuel for this alleged ban comes from a significant shift in Met Gala’s inner circle. According to unconfirmed sources, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna’s long-time partner and father of her children, has been appointed to the Met Gala’s board committee. This position grants him, and by extension Rihanna, major sway over the coveted guest list, a privilege that only Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour can rival.
Reports suggest that Rihanna is using this newfound access to execute the ultimate act of celebrity revenge: getting the Kardashians banned completely. The idea that Rihanna is ‘hell bent on humbling’ the family and forcing them out of the industry’s most prestigious event has sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Unsurprisingly, Kendall Jenner is reportedly the most “livid” about the news, going as far as to accuse Rihanna of being “bitter” and “jealous” of her—a claim that might sound “delusional” until one unpacks the truly toxic history between them.
A Decade of Hostility: From Twitter Snub to Body Shaming
The roots of this feud stretch back nearly a decade, demonstrating Rihanna’s long memory and intense disdain for the supermodel.
1. The ‘Don’t Come’ Snub (2012): The tension first became public in 2012 when a then 16-year-old Kendall, clearly fangirling, jokingly tweeted that she would be “very upset” if Rihanna didn’t perform her song “Complicated” at an upcoming concert. Rihanna’s response was swift, brutal, and public: “Well don’t come,” she replied. It was a cold, high-profile rejection that immediately established the power dynamic between the global superstar and the young reality TV star, leaving Kendall feeling “stupid” and embarrassed.
2. The Victoria’s Secret Sabotage (2015): The feud escalated into professional territory a few years later. In 2015, Rihanna was scheduled to perform at the prestigious Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. However, when her close friend, British model Jourdan Dunn, was allegedly replaced on the runway by Kendall Jenner—who supposedly pulled strings to get her friend thrown out—Rihanna immediately pulled out of her performance. Dunn announced Rihanna’s withdrawal on Twitter, making it clear the mogul was on her side against Jenner. This was one of the first clear instances of Rihanna using her professional influence to sabotage Kendall’s career connections.
3. The 2018 Body Shaming Allegation: The rivalry peaked at the 2018 Met Gala. According to an anonymous source who spoke to Star Magazine, Rihanna approached Kendall and loudly made a comment that was perceived as blatant body shaming. She allegedly said, “Good thing I have the curves to pull this outfit off, I would hate to be a stick figure.”. The source claimed Rihanna then stared at Kendall, laughed in her face, and walked away. While the rumor’s veracity has been questioned by those who note Rihanna’s long-standing body positivity advocacy, the story resonated strongly enough in celebrity circles to fuel the narrative of Rihanna’s open contempt.
The Love Triangle and The Chris Brown Connection
Beyond the professional sabotage and public shade, the relationship between Rihanna and Kendall is complicated by a messy history of shared romantic interests that turns the feud intensely personal.
The A$AP Rocky Conflict: The tension over A$AP Rocky, now Rihanna’s partner, is a core component of the drama. Kendall and the rapper were reportedly involved in a romantic relationship around 2016, a period during which they were frequently spotted together in fashion capitals like Paris, New York, and Miami. They were seen “all over each other” at the 2017 Coachella festival, and their dating status was all but confirmed by a now-infamous Snapchat video posted by Kim Kardashian that showed Kendall and A$AP Rocky making out.
Sources suggest that A$AP Rocky’s relationship with Kendall occurred at a time when he and Rihanna were close friends, and Rihanna was allegedly interested in taking their relationship to the next level. The fact that he was “too consumed by Kendall” allegedly made Rihanna “more pressed” and territorial. With Rocky now by her side and on the Met Gala committee, the opportunity to exact revenge over the past slight is perfectly aligned.
The Chris Brown Factor: Adding a dark layer of resentment is Kendall’s past association with Chris Brown. As is widely known, Brown physically attacked Rihanna in 2009, an incident that remains a painful chapter in her life. Kendall was reportedly “messing with Chris Brown” at some point. Rihanna is said to have viewed Kendall’s relationship with her abuser as a deliberate act of provocation or a way for Kendall to spite her for the years of shade. Rihanna reportedly took this as a personal attack, solidifying her hatred and leading to a policy of professional exclusion.
The ‘Culture Vulture’ Disdain
For Rihanna, the feud isn’t just about men or jealousy; it’s allegedly rooted in her deep disdain for the Kardashian-Jenner brand, which she perceives as “culture vultures” who steal and profit from Black and marginalized cultures.
This sentiment was amplified by the controversy surrounding Kendall’s tequila brand, 818. When she launched the brand, she faced immediate accusations of cultural appropriation and “exploiting Mexican culture”. Critics pointed out that Kendall, a wealthy white model from Calabasas (the “818” area code), was profiting massively from a product and agricultural industry integral to Jalisco, Mexico, while having “zero knowledge of the making and consumption of tequila”. Rihanna, a woman who has built a billion-dollar empire by genuinely championing diversity and authentic cultural representation through Savage X Fenty, is allegedly disgusted by this perceived lack of respect and authenticity.
In fact, Rihanna even went as far as excluding Kendall from modeling in her Savage x Fenty shows, while allowing Kendall’s friends, like Gigi and Bella Hadid, to walk multiple times. This quiet exclusion serves as a continuous professional punishment, showcasing Rihanna’s ability to control access to high-profile opportunities.
A Calculated Strike
The culmination of these years of feuding—from public snubs and alleged body shaming to a love triangle and genuine cultural antagonism—has positioned Rihanna to make her most powerful move yet. By allegedly leveraging A$AP Rocky’s position on the Met Gala committee, she isn’t just throwing shade; she is playing the Kardashian-Jenner game of using connections to enact real-world consequences.
While some observers question the credibility of the sources, suggesting that Rihanna is too “unbothered” to engage in such petty revenge, the decades of history suggest otherwise. Rihanna has not forgotten, and now, with the ultimate leverage, she has the chance to give the Kardashian-Jenner family the most devastating social snub possible: making them realize that on the one night that celebrates ultimate fashion power, they are simply not welcome. The fashion world now holds its breath, waiting to see if the world’s most famous family will indeed be exiled from the only event that truly defines celebrity exclusivity.
