Speculation of Joey King appearing at the 2026 Met Gala has come up, and the actress has denied it. The actress had in fact had some beauty treatments, a spray tan and a temporary fasting period, which is what made her look fresh and young. She has garnered attention, with her comments, since many times when women change their appearance dramatically for the red carpet, there is a lot of speculation about cosmetic surgery on the internet when there are other explanations.
King directly addressed the speculations about her May appearance at the Met Gala on the “In Your Dreams” podcast with Owen Thiele. Apparently, the actor, who has starred in movies such as “Practical Magic 2,” wanted to put the matter to rest, not let rumors run wild. “I didn’t get a facelift. I’m pleased we’re discussing this,” King said.
Before making her appearance at the event, she had not had any facelifts nor any other cosmetic procedures, King explained. Instead, she had been taking care of things that she felt would make her look and feel her best on the red carpet. At a show rather than an ordinary fashion event, celebrities might prepare for a lot more than they would for a normal fashion show. Grooming—from hair, make-up, skin care and body care to tanning and other treatments—can affect the appearance of an individual when they are lit and photographed.
One of the plans that King mentioned was a spray tan. She also shared that she had an uncomfortably long period of time in which she had no food before the event. The one thing that I did, I got a spray tan. And then I went on a 36 hour fast – no food, just water, which I don’t do, but I did it.”
King said they decided to fast because she came back from her bachelorette party over the weekend before the Met Gala. She had been drinking and felt that she looked bigger than usual, she said. At first, she was going to do a shorter reset, not planning for the long fast at the outset.
I had been at a bachelorette party the weekend before, and I was looking swollen, and I was drinking a lot and I was like ‘I gotta do a reset. I’m going to do a 24-hour fast.’’”
The fast of 24 hours was a planned fast that eventually lasted about 36 hours. King explained how things came to be that way, and admitted that this wasn’t something she wanted all people to do. “It ended up being like 36 hours, and everything,” King said, but he added it was “good for you to do once a month if you’re healthy enough to do it anyway.
Of special significance are her remarks on fasting, as this period may impact individuals differently based on their medical conditions, nutritional status, medical treatment, and other factors. While fasting has gained significant popularity in the health and entertainment industry, treatments successful for one individual shouldn’t be assumed as a beauty tip for all. Her own account tells us that she only used this in her own preparation–not as a general practice to get a certain look.
The actress also disclosed that she used a few facial and body treatments just before the big Met Gala. These included a lymphatic massage and a facial just prior to the event. She then had another facial lymphatic massage on the day of the gala.
“Well, I had a face lymphatic massage and a face the day before the Met, and then a face the day of the Met.”
In the world of celebrities, the use of lymphatic massage has gained increased popularity, especially before big events. The method is based on light massage strokes designed to promote the flow of lymph fluid. It is also used in beauty settings as a temporary remedy to make the face less puffy. These treatments may help some individuals look less swollen for a brief period, but are not considered surgical interventions or permanent changes to the face.
The objective for King was simple: she wanted to look extra special for one of the world’s most photographed events. Trying our best to look all fabulous on the carpet. And guess what? That’s because everyone was like, ‘Oh, you’ve had plastic surgery, but you haven’t,” King added.
The reaction shows how quickly things can change and start speculating online. The reason the differences become more dramatic even when relatively subtle is due to the professional makeup, controlled lighting, camera angle, styling and image editing of red carpet photographs. These can sometimes make an individual seem to have physically changed, but in reality the transformation may be much more subtle.
The Met Gala is of particular interest here, as it is all about looks. Celebrities may show up wearing fancy attire, elaborate make-up and meticulously arranged hair. Others spend a lot of time in beauty preparations in the days leading up to the event. Consequently, users can be misled when comparing photos of everyday life to those seen at the red carpet, especially when the latter are not taking into account all the elements that make up the end result.
King’s remarks also reflect the rising scrutiny on celebrities for their changes in look. King’s willingness to share about her preparations also provides an alternate explanation and exemplifies just how elaborate beauty regimens can get before an event.
The actor has continued to make a splash in her acting career and on the public stage. She has also been spotted at the London premiere of “Practical Magic 2” in a starring role with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and Maisie Williams. For King, it’s another significant moment in her public calendar to promote the project, and it’s her fronting another time before international audiences.
After the London premiere, King posted her response on Instagram: “London, you made these witches so very happy.”
