Cardi B Hit Back At Criticism Of Her “Unrecognizable” And “Alarming” Appearance After A Video Of Her Getting Ready For The Met Gala Sparked A Load Of Discourse

Earlier this week, Cardi B stepped out at the 2025 Met Gala in a gorgeous Burberry outfit made by designer Daniel Lee.

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Sitting down with Vogue for a candid chat ahead of the Met, Cardi opened up about her look while she was getting ready. “It’s actually more intimidating now because I’m competing with myself,” she began. “Everybody always expects so much from me. Especially here, because they know that this is my department, which, you know, is overwhelming, but I love it.”

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

“It just makes me understand like I’m really a superstar. ’Cause only the superstars get invited,” she said.

Going on to discuss what the theme of this year’s Met — Superfine: Tailoring Black Style — meant to her, Cardi said, “When I first found out that the Met Gala was dandyism, all I could think about is Harlem. You know, when you walk the streets of Harlem, you always have custom, like, stores that actually make custom, like, fits like this.”

“I never really seen somebody but a pastor dress like that, dress real dandy, dress real colorful. Not even just colorful, just, have a little twist to it,” she continued. “‘Cause you don’t really have to have color. You could be dandy just wearing black. This is, like, suits but with seasoning on it.”

Several fans quickly praised Cardi’s understanding of the theme — however, the video also got people talking for another reason. Unfortunately, a bunch of internet users wound up questioning — and critiquing — Cardi’s appearance, suggesting that she seemed “tired,” “drunk,” or “high” because she was “slurring” some of her words.

“She looks so different,” one comment read. “my girl look tired,” another said.

“what happened to her face,” one person questioned, while another user wrote, “She is unrecognizable. It’s alarming.”

“Is she high?” someone asked, while one more person said, “There’s something off.”

Eventually, Cardi — who is mom to three young children — replied directly to one person who commented, “Was she drunk ??? Lol.” Cardi wrote, “no I was really really tired and drowsy.”

Cardi has since been defended by several internet users who are reminding others that she’s only human. “Yall in these comments are just so programmed to see edits. It’s scary anyone sees anything wrong with a natural raw video. She looks absolutely stunning,” one person said.

“She just sounds like an exhausted mom,” someone else wrote, while another fan said, “Compared to other celebrities, she does seem very involved with her kids. The woman is tired as hell!”

You can find more of our Met Gala coverage here.