Here's why Justin Bieber skipped the Met Gala and didn't join Hailey on the red carpet

When it’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and your team’s on the ice, even the Met Gala has to wait. That’s exactly what happened on Monday night when Justin Bieber, certified Canadian royalty and lifelong Maple Leafs fan opted for a night of hockey over couture. While Hailey Bieber lit up the red carpet solo in New York, her husband was spotted tuned into the Leafs’ playoff game from home, proving once again that for Bieber, hockey comes before high fashion.

Justin Bieber’s love for the Maple Leafs runs deeper than any runway

hailey bieber: *at the met gala*

justin bieber: pic.twitter.com/RoXDolMcdm

— amanda christine (@manders92) May 6, 2025

This isn’t the first time Justin Bieber has worn his fandom on his sleeve (literally). The pop superstar has long been a vocal and visible supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs , even designing limited-edition jerseys for the team through his fashion label Drew House. So his decision to skip the Met Gala and stay home to watch the Leafs take on the Panthers? Totally on-brand.



Bieber didn’t appear at any Met Gala afterparties either, making it clear he was in full playoff mode. The NHL’s opening round is serious business and apparently more important than hobnobbing with Anna Wintour and Zendaya.

Hailey Bieber turns heads at Met Gala 2025 without her other half

Hailey made her own headlines at the Met, arriving solo in a minimalist black custom Saint Laurent mini dress blazer. While she looked stunning (as always), fans quickly noticed Justin's absence. It marked the second consecutive year the couple didn't walk the red carpet together, sparking chatter online about their diverging public appearances.

https://x.com/BritishVogue/status/1919556342076817653


But just hours later, Bieber posted his support for Hailey on Instagram, proving there's no drama, just different priorities. For him, that priority was watching the Leafs win Game 1, even as goalie Anthony Stolarz was hospitalized after a brutal hit.



Whether intentional or not, Bieber's Met Gala absence turned into a wholesome moment of national pride. Hailey served Met Gala glam, Justin repped his team, and somewhere in between, the internet got a classic Canadian celebrity moment to obsess over.

Also read - “He gets away with everything”: Maple Leafs fans furious as Sam Bennett avoids suspension for hit that hospitalized goalie Anthony Stolarz