While all eyes were on who was leaving The Carlyle hotel on Monday evening, there was one very notable arrival headed in the other direction.
Rihanna, dressed casually, walked through the hotel’s front revolving door just shy of 6 p.m., her entrance serving as an announcement for another arrival: she’s pregnant with her and A$AP Rocky’s third child. Rocky, on official gala cohost duty, departed for the red carpet (solo) soon after.
The action had started shortly after 4 p.m., with Emma Chamberlain and gala cohost Colman Domingo kicking things off.
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“You look great,” said Ava DuVernay, hands akimbo framing her belted Prada gown, as she complimented Joey King, dressed in a custom green Miu Miu suit.
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade were also dressed in Prada, and were ready to get the party started.
“Allll night longggg, all night,” Wade sang, offering up an a cappella rendition of Lionel Richie’s song as he sipped Champagne next to wife Union. “This is my last sip,” Wade added, before handing off the glass as the smiling duo headed out to meet their car.
“I’ll see you guys in there!” Gigi Hadid called out to the couple as she hurried past.
Shortly after, Simone Biles came through hand-in-hand with husband Jonathan Owens. “Bye, love you!” said the gymnast, blowing the lobby crowd a kiss.
Donatella Versace was headed in the opposite direction of Anne Hathaway and designer date Wes Gordon, but stopped to greet the actress with a double kiss. “Donatella, do you know Wes?” asked Hathaway.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Versace said, turning to Gordon. The Italian designer later returned through the lobby with her arm looped around the elbow of her own date, Chance the Rapper.
Hunter Schafer used the wait time to catch up with Justice Smith, Jennie and Hathaway, whose impending departure interrupted their convo. “I’ll tell you about it later,” said Hathaway. “It’s never been better.”
The lobby swelled with bodies as stars queued up to leave, from Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, to Halle Bailey with Coach designer Stuart Vevers, Kendall Jenner, Halle Berry, Quinta Brunson, Stormzy, Sadie Sink, Lupita Nyong’o and more.
Maluma carried a single pink rose as he sauntered through the lobby with Willy Chavarria. “I’m excited about Maluma’s look,” said Chavarria, gesturing to the singer. “Look at this handsome man.”
“We’re excited to celebrate tonight,” Maluma added, spinning his rose, color-matched to Chavarria’s suit, between his fingers.
Other accessories in hand: a somewhat menacing cat clutch carried by singer Clairo and a martini (two olives) that left the hotel with Hailey Bieber.
“Look how incredible she is!” said Olivier Rousteing, offering date Rosalêa a round of applause as they headed out to meet their car. The designer had another compliment in store en route: “Guapo!” Rousteing called out to Spanish model Jon Kortajarena, who had been in the lobby patiently (so patiently!) waiting for his ride for over an hour.
“We are ready for you when you’re ready for us,” a handler told Natasha Lyonne, who had been striking dramatic poses in her lilac Alexander McQueen gown just steps from the hotel’s revolving doors. “Adios,” she called, throwing the room a salute.
At 7:20, a swath of hot pink hurried up the lobby stairs and through the side door without stopping.
And with Chappell Roan, the departures had all left the building — well, almost all of them.
Rihanna was still upstairs.