Halle Berry made headlines at this year’s Met Gala, wearing one of the most exposing dresses of the evening. At 58, the Oscar-winning actress demonstrated that she is still as stunning as ever, boldly striding the red carpet in a daring costume that looked to leave her panties behind. Halle Berry, a dazzling beauty at 58, has been one of Hollywood’s highest-paid female performers for three decades. Berry became the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress with her role as a struggling lady in Monster’s Ball (2001).
Today, she is admired by millions of admirers across the world, but the actress is now facing outrage online after walking the Met Gala red carpet in a scandalous, underwear-free dress that some are labeling “crass.”
Berry made a striking statement in a sheer, striped gown with a plunging neckline for her show-stopping 2025 Met Gala homecoming, marking her first appearance on the legendary Met stairs since 2017. LaQuan Smith, the designer of the daring outfit, characterized it as “a mix of s*xy Bond girl meets Harlem Renaissance,” according to Vogue. The rare ensemble, inspired by the Mongolian snow leopard, included 31.69 carats of diamonds and 3.74 carats of onyx, which Cartier workers delicately fashioned over 1,455 hours.
Just Halle Berry’s earrings, which mimicked the geometric shape of her necklace, had 3.96 carats of diamonds and 0.4 carats of onyx. These magnificent jewels were created over 319 hours, bringing a touch of craftsmanship and elegance to her 2025 Met Gala costume. Smith lauded the Catwoman star for her active involvement in bringing the concept to reality. “I’m just grateful to serve as a humble muse for LaQuan Smith, who answered the call for a bespoke gown befitting a powerful theme,” Halle told the paper. Designer LaQuan Smith called the style a celebration of “self-expression and being bold,” but not everyone agreed.
The 58-year-old actress appeared naked in one of the most revealing costumes of the night, leaving no room for interpretation. Her outfit provoked outrage online, with several reviewers labeling her daring see-through style as “trashy” and “inappropriate.”
“Just straight-up trashy,” one person said, while another added, “This is wrong in so many ways.”
It was designed with intention. The outrage over Halle Berry’s daring Met Gala appearance continues to flood in on social media, with many criticizing the celebrity for going too far.
“Ugh,” one person commented. “So cheap, Halle.”
Someone else remarked, “… one thing about Halle, she’s ALWAYS going to show up half naked.” Perhaps the most frank response of them was, “Why is her punani out omg.”
The topic for the 2025 Met Gala was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a celebration of menswear and Black dandyism, a movement that employs crisp tailoring and personal flair to express both opposition and ethnic pride. What’s the official dress code? “Tailored for You.”
Halle Berry’s American fashion designer, LaQuan Smith, explained that her daring garment was a clear expression of the theme’s more profound message.
“We took traditional tailoring elements, structured shoulders, and defined waistlines and reimagined them with sheer fabrics, stretch silks, and unexpected cutouts,” he told the fashion magazine. LaQuan underlined Halle’s style was purposefully meant to correspond with the theme’s “ethos” via “exaggerated lines, luxurious fabrics, and sheer boldness.”
He also lauded the Oscar winner for her inventive contributions to the design process. “She understands who she is and has a strong sense of style, but she’s also very collaborative. During the fittings, she wasn’t simply getting into a garment; she was sculpting it with me,” LaQuan explained.
Halle Berry’s bold dress for the 2025 Met Gala caused ripples, but did it go too far? While some praised her daring, boundary-pushing flair, others believed her decision went too far.
Was it liberating self-expression, or just too much for the red carpet?