No, that eye-catching image of Katy Perry in a shimmering, oil-slick-inspired dress at the Met Gala was not real — and neither was her presence. Despite the viral picture circulating on social media, Perry was not present at the 2025 Met Gala. The image, as realistic as it appeared, was completely generated by artificial intelligence.

The AI-crafted outfit tricked thousands on the internet, with various perspectives and even a fake fashion sketch making the rounds, creating the illusion of an authentic red carpet experience. But it was all a digital creation.

Perry herself partook in the humor, sharing the AI-altered image on Instagram with a lighthearted caption: “couldn’t make it to the MET, I’m on The Lifetimes Tour (see you in Houston tomorrow IRL‼️) P.s. this year I was actually with my mom so she’s safe from the bots but I’m praying for the rest of y’all.” Her longtime partner, Orlando Bloom, added a comment: “Not once but twice 😂 still got it 🔥.”

Despite the singer’s clear refutation and playful tone, many fans were still misled by the AI fabrication. The realism of the image — featuring intricate design elements and seemingly professional photography — underscores how sophisticated and deceptive AI-generated content has become.

This is not the first instance of AI dressing Perry for the fashion world’s most significant night. A similar situation occurred last year when another AI-generated image of her at the Met Gala gained viral attention. She responded at that time as well, posting the fabricated pictures to Instagram with the caption, “couldn’t make it to the MET, had to work.”

As AI technologies continue to progress, these types of digital illusions are only becoming more convincing. So, the next time you spot a celebrity in an unreasonably perfect outfit at a high-profile event, consider pausing before you hit that repost button — it may just be the bots.