Why Kim Kardashian Almost Had a Panic Attack in Controversial 2024 Met Gala Look

Kim Kardashian isn’t sure she would survive in the Regency era—especially after the 2024 Met Gala.

In May, the Kardashians star made a bold fashion statement at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wearing a metallic Maison Margiela floral print gown that showcased her hourglass figure with its waist-cinching lace corset. But while the silver chromatic gown was the perfect addition to the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” theme, the actual act of wearing it was not so glamorous.

"I’m not as uncomfortable as I might look," Kim told hairstylist Chris Appleton and designer John Galliano while getting ready for the event at the time, shown in a Feb. 13 episode of The Kardashians. "It’s definitely a performance piece. I mean, God bless the Bridgerton cast that has to dress like this every single day. That would be so difficult."

But it didn’t take long before the corset-induced panic set in during the limo ride to the event. In fact, she told her friend LaLa Anthony that she “never felt this much pain in my life.”

"I am claustrophobic,” she recalled in the episode. “I've never felt this way before, where I feel like I can't breathe.”

Indeed, the ensemble even sparked some controversy due to how drastically it cinched her waist. And while the 44-year-old planned to “sneak out right before the dinner” to get out of the agonizing dress, she found herself getting held up.

"It's like I can handle it for so long,” she continued, “but I have to pee, I can't breathe, I can't get this off, so this one I was just like I'm going to die if you don't get this off of me right now."

When she finally got to take the dress off at the end of the night, she removed the corset to reveal some pretty intense outlines imprinted into her skin. And earlier in the night, her mom Kris Jenner jokingly questioned Kim’s commitment to making a fashion statement—even at the expense of her own comfort.

“Are you ever gonna wear a dress to the met where you can actually walk,” the 69-year-old quipped. “I don’t know what I would do if you just walked into the Met wearing a normal dress.”

But despite the discomfort that it caused, not even Kim could deny how fabulous it looked on the red carpet. And when asked if it was all worth it, she said, "Abso-f--king-lutely."

"That's just who I am," she added. "If you look good, it's all worth it."