Since Susan Sontag popularized the term in her seminal essay “Notes on ‘Camp’” in 1964, the definition of “camp” has been hotly debated. Jared Leto has some very confident ideas on the matter. As evidenced by his appearance at the “camp”-themed 2019 Met Gala, to him it means carrying a duplicate of your head along with you while draped in Gucci.
https://twitter.com/eliesaaab/status/1125533048345432064
The annual Met Gala, held the first Monday in every May, has long encouraged celebs to go above and beyond, all while everyone on social media drops what they’re doing and freaks out. Given the theme, the grotesquerie was wilder than usual, from Cardi B wearing a flowing crimson ball gown (which still wasn’t longer than Rihanna’s yellow frock from 2015) to Lady Gaga’s speeding through multiple costume changes, each more outré than the last.
But the Oscar-winner and occasional Joker gave them a run for their money. For one thing, Leto was bedecked in a long-sleeve red silk Gucci gown, with diamonds encrusted down the bodice. But cross-dressing wasn’t enough, otherwise he’d have been upstaged by a dolled-up Harry Styles. What really made the ensemble was the decapitated head he carried along with him.
For the onetime Jordan Catalano, always a Met Gala show-stopper, it was a step-up from last year’s do, and that’s when he came dressed as Jesus Christ.
Twitter was quick with the jokey comparisons.
Jared Leto vs. Ned Stark
MetGala vs. GoT#MetGala pic.twitter.com/KMNbk0Q2FD— Marmolilla 🧠 (@LaMarmolilla) May 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/swiftreptour/status/1125532568315731983
there's a frood who really knows where his towel is pic.twitter.com/Zu4alVHUK6
— BILL RYAN (@faceyouhate) May 7, 2019
Or to simply make jokes.
Me announcing the anxiety I brought to a social gathering pic.twitter.com/wHuDaoQo6G
— Marc (@MarcSnetiker) May 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/jpbrammer/status/1125532163628261377
https://twitter.com/kibblesmith/status/1125579755590438915
i cant belive jared leto killed russel brand for the met gala https://t.co/du0HT6pWx5
— STREAM SAWAYAMA (@10twenty40) May 6, 2019
Leto also wound up briefly passing the head to Shawn Mendes.
Jared Leto gave Shawn Mendes head #MetGala2019 pic.twitter.com/RGHEY83UK2
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) May 6, 2019
Others celebrated not only Leto but the night’s other cross-dressing men.
https://twitter.com/notjustyourfan/status/1125581969318748160
In fact, maybe Leto’s fellow DCEU team member Ezra Miller arguably beat him, not only in terms of what constitutes “camp” but weird stuff involving one’s face.
https://twitter.com/devotedtoezra/status/1125548902189600768
Ezra Miller is terrifying and stunning #MetGala pic.twitter.com/icgptbt495
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) May 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/devotedtoezra/status/1125556115306090496