A rumoured backstage note became one of the most-discussed side stories of the 2017 Met Gala — not on the red carpet, but in the quiet, press-free areas behind it.

NEW YORK — The Met Gala is designed as fashion’s highest-concept evening — a once-per-year installation in which creativity is judged on originality, narrative clarity and risk. In 2017 — the year of Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between — Rihanna’s sculptural runway-direct Comme des Garçons look became the night’s centre of gravity. The multi-layered construction, lifted from the label’s Fall 2016 season, was widely regarded by critics as a standout interpretation of a difficult theme.

But while that was happening in front of the cameras, an entirely separate whisper-level conversation circulated within style circles: a short written message — reportedly 14 words — was said to have been directed toward Rihanna’s styling team and linked to singer Fergie.

Entertainment outlets that covered the rumour at the time described the wording of that message as sharply phrased and accusatory — essentially claiming a style concept had been used without permission. However, there was no on-record confirmation from representatives on either side, and Fergie did not attend the Gala that year. The “note” therefore remains in the territory of unverified industry reporting rather than a documented interaction.

why this rumour gained traction

That alleged note tapped into one of the most delicate tensions in high-stakes fashion settings: the line between influence and imitation.

For Met Gala looks, the stakes are unusually high:

• couture is often sourced months in advance
• designers and stylists guard certain silhouettes as part of personal creative language
• a single well-executed look can become a defining cultural artefact

When the imagery is this public — museum steps, international syndication, global social posting — even the idea of creative overlap can feel like a challenge to identity.

the part that is undisputed

Rihanna’s Comme des Garçons ensemble remains one of the most-referenced Met Gala looks of the decade. It still appears in magazine ranking lists, documentaries and runway retrospectives, and is often used as an example of how to interpret a complicated theme with confidence and clarity.

The alleged 14-word message — whether physical, whispered, second-hand, or never delivered — is now part of the folklore that often surrounds the Gala: private tension, unconfirmed sourcing, outsized speculation.

What lasted — in print, in photographs and in memory — was the look itself.