And yes, it’s Balenciaga.
The internet’s newest favorite Gen Z heartthrob, Hudson Williams, made his Met Gala debut with a bang. For the occasion, the Heated Rivalry actor went for a vintage-inspired matador look that bridged the worlds of art, fashion and costume.
Balenciaga Blue
On the first Monday in May, Williams joined the ranks of actors, singers and other creatives on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for one of fashion’s biggest nights. As hinted by his off-duty appearances just days prior, Williams stepped out in head-to-toe Balenciaga.
Following his portrayal of Shane Hollander in Heated Rivalry (2025), Williams skyrocketed into the limelight, earning an engaged fan base and a privileged spot among the world’s hottest heartthrobs. It isn’t any wonder, then, that Williams secured an invitation to the Met Gala—arguably, the most coveted and exclusive event in fashion—alongside the season’s most buzz-worthy talent.
Ahead of his Met Gala debut, Williams turned heads, exiting the Mark Hotel in nothing but a short bathrobe. Though dramatic winged eyeshadow was visible, the look left people wondering what Williams had in store for the carpet.
The answer: a Matador-infused ensemble in an homage to Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga. The look found inspiration in the 1947 Bolero jacket, which reimagines traditional bullfighter attire, and featured a fitted, ornate jacket and matching pants with a side train reminiscent of the capote de brega — a cape used for bullfighting. Black embroidery and tassels decorated the trousers and jacket, complementing Williams’ blue and red-tinged makeup, which, as he explained, was inspired by the 2010 film, Black Swan.
Taking a page from male stars popularizing the shirtless red carpet looks in the 2020s, Williams wore an unbuttoned top, opting for a chest-baring appearance.
No Hudson Williams red carpet outfit would be complete without Bvlgari adornments. For the Met Gala, the actor wore an appropriately luxe statement necklace from the high jewelry collection and Serpenti Viper earrings.
Joining the Fashion Elite
After the November 2025 premiere—and subsequent virality—of Heated Rivalry, Williams has quickly carved a reputation as a fashion darling. In January, Williams followed in the footsteps of Doechii and NLE Choppa, staging a grand runway debut at the Dsquared2 Fall/Winter 2026 runway. Williams’ presence helped position Dsquared2 among the most impactful brands at Men’s Fashion Week, contributing 54% of the show’s total impact.
“All eyes were on Dsquared2 this Men’s Milan Fashion Week when Hudson Williams, standout star of Heated Rivalry, took a leading role on the runway,” shared data company Launchmetrics. “To further amplify the moment, the brand partnered with Williams on a collaborative Instagram post, generating almost 12x more value than Dsquared2’s typical Instagram content.” The post ultimately accrued $440K in Media Impact Value and emerged as the top placement related to the runway.
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The next month, Balenciaga made Williams a Friend of the House before extending a front-row invitation to their Paris Fashion Week show in March. The actor also made various red carpet appearances with the brand during awards season.
Representing Balenciaga at this year’s Met Gala is a major milestone for Williams. In addition to cementing his relationship with the brand, it solidifies his newly claimed stake among the fashion elite.
In fact, as reported by Launchmetrics on May 8, the actor emerged as one of the top 10 best-performing celebrities of the night. The data company’s report identifies “the specific looks and celebrities that fueled the most buzz for brands by sparking viral moments that rippled through social feeds and ignited cultural conversations.” Williams ranked 4th among male celebrities.
Debuting a look by Balenciaga’s new creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the Heated Rivalry star generated $7.9 million in Media Impact Value for the brand. As noted by Launchmetrics, at the Met Gala, 77% of celebrity ambassador-driven MIV originated from Indirect Echo — coverage from media, influencers and other third-party voices. This dynamic reflected the importance of curating celebrity ambassadorships that not only resonate with the brand, but are also, “culturally relevant to further drive conversation.”
Williams has, time after time, proved to be one of them.
Following his Met Gala appearance, the actor is slated to appear in a series of forthcoming projects, from thriller film Tyrant and dark comedy film Apparatus to the second season of Heated Rivalry in 2027.
Author’s note: This article was originally published on May 4 and has been updated to reflect updated data.
