The Saturday Night Live comedian stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet for the first time, bringing personal meaning and his Latin roots into his look for the high fashion event
Marcello Hernandez at the 2026 Met Gala
Marcello Hernandez made his Met Gala debut by focusing on details that reflected his background.
The Saturday Night Live cast member attended the event with his girlfriend, Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral, stepping onto the carpet for the first time together. He wore a black tuxedo by Thom Browne, but the standout elements were the personal additions. A brooch pinned to his jacket was made by his mother in Miami and featured symbols tied to his Cuban and Dominican heritage for the event.
“My mom made this with Sammy Euler on Calle 8, in Miami,” he said. “I have my guardian angel, a black stone for protection, and Larimar, which is the Dominican stone.” He also wore a traditional Azabache on his sleeve, a Cuban protection stone, with the words, “Dios le bendiga.” It came as another Met Gala reporter was labeled ‘disrespectful’ after dissing an A-list celebrity.
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Speaking in Spanish with La La Anthony on the carpet, Hernandez said his girlfriend was “nervous,” adding that she looked “beautiful.” “It’s an intense moment—so many cameras, so much shouting…but we made it,” he said. He later described the experience, “It’s our first time… we feel like little kids. I’m excited. We can’t wait to people watch and to whisper, ‘Did you see that?’”
Batlle Cabral, a Dominican-born architect, wore a strapless black gown by Oscar de la Renta with feathered detailing, paired with a diamond necklace, earrings, and rings. The couple, who were first linked in early 2025, stayed close as they made their way inside.
Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral and Marcello Hernandez attend the 2026 Met Gala
The 2026 Met Gala, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art, centered on the exhibition “Costume Art” with the dress code “Fashion is Art.” The night was a mix of returning regulars and first-time attendees, with several moments carrying the conversation after the carpet wrapped.
Beyoncé returned to the Met Gala after several years away and served as one of the co-chairs, wearing a skeletal-inspired gown that stood out among the night’s looks.
Rihanna arrived later in the evening in a sculptural metallic outfit alongside A$AP Rocky, continuing her pattern of late entrances that drew attention on the carpet.
Blake Lively also returned, wearing a detailed, period-inspired gown that aligned with the theme.
Marcello paid homage to his heritage
Other attendees who drew attention included Bad Bunny and Kim Kardashian, both offering their own interpretations of the dress code. Jisoo made her Met Gala debut, marking the first time all members of BLACKPINK had attended the event individually over the years.
At the same time, a few regular names were absent, including Zendaya, Taylor Swift, and Timothée Chalamet.
As with previous years, the event served as a major fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute, with the red carpet once again driving most of the public attention.
Meanwhile, protesters outside boycotted the event after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sanchez were named honorary co-chairs.