Dwayne Johnson defends Met Gala skirt look, cites Polynesian culture masculinity
Synopsis
Dwayne Johnson didn't just wear a skirt to the Met Gala—he wore it as a statement. By pairing a Thom Browne tailcoat with 350 metres of pleated silk and tying the look explicitly to Polynesian heritage, Johnson reframed the conversation around masculinity in Western fashion. His recent CinemaCon comments on empowering women suggest this is less about fashion rebellion and more about cultural reclamation.
Key Takeaways
Dwayne Johnson wore a black mohair tailcoat with a pleated skirt to the Met Gala 2026 on 5 May .
The skirt was designed by Thom Browne and featured over 350 metres of hand-pleated silk ribbons in a "skeletal composition." Johnson cited Polynesian culture , where lavalavas (skirts) are worn by men, as inspiration for the look.
At CinemaCon 2026 , Johnson stated that "real masculinity" means empowering women of all ages.
The Met Gala 2026 was co-chaired by Beyoncé , Nicole Kidman , Serena Williams , and Anna Wintour .
Dwayne Johnson turned heads at the Met Gala 2026 on 5 May when he walked the red carpet in a black mohair tailcoat paired with a matching pleated skirt, challenging conventional Western notions of masculine dress. The Hollywood star, accompanied by his wife Lauren Hashian, made the bold sartorial statement at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where the gala's theme was "Costume Art."
The design and inspiration
The tailcoat, crafted by designer Thom Browne, featured over 350 metres of hand-pleated silk ribbons arranged in a "skeletal composition." When asked about the unconventional pairing, Johnson revealed that the look drew inspiration from Polynesian culture, where skirts—known as lavalavas—are worn by men as everyday attire. "In our culture, Polynesian culture, we rock lavalavas, we rock skirts," Johnson explained to reporters. "The most masculine men wear lavalavas and skirts."
Johnson's stance on masculinity
The actor's Met Gala appearance aligns with his recent public statements on what he defines as "real masculinity." At CinemaCon 2026, while promoting Disney's live-action "Moana," Johnson told the audience that true masculine identity centres on empowering women. "All men of all ages, we should empower and support and champion all women. That's what real masculinity looks like," he said, noting that his character Maui serves as a guide and supporter to the film's warrior heroine rather than occupying the traditional hero role.
The gala's leadership
This year's Met Gala was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Serena Williams, and Anna Wintour. The gala's host committee, headed by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, included a roster of celebrities and cultural figures spanning music, sports, fashion, and entertainment.
Cultural significance
Johnson's choice to wear a skirt on one of fashion's most scrutinised stages represents a broader cultural conversation about how masculinity is performed and perceived in Western contexts. By explicitly tying his choice to his Polynesian heritage, the actor positioned the look not as a fashion experiment but as a reclamation of cultural identity. His willingness to articulate this reasoning—rather than allowing the outfit to speak for itself—underscores his commitment to reframing masculine expression beyond Western binaries.
Point of View
He's reclaiming a garment that his ancestors wore without apology. What's notable is not that a Hollywood star wore a skirt—that's become routine in fashion circles—but that he used the platform to educate Western audiences on non-Western masculine expression. His CinemaCon remarks on empowering women suggest he's constructing a coherent philosophy of masculinity that transcends both Western binaries and performative wokeness.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Dwayne Johnson wear a skirt to the Met Gala 2026?
Johnson wore the skirt as a nod to Polynesian culture, where lavalavas (skirts) are traditional attire worn by men. He stated that "the most masculine men" in his culture wear skirts, positioning the choice as a reclamation of cultural identity rather than a fashion statement alone.
Who designed Dwayne Johnson's Met Gala outfit?
The outfit was designed by Thom Browne . The tailcoat was paired with a pleated skirt featuring over 350 metres of hand-pleated silk ribbons arranged in a "skeletal composition."
What did Johnson say about masculinity at CinemaCon 2026?
At CinemaCon 2026, while promoting Disney's live-action "Moana," Johnson said that "real masculinity" for men of all ages means empowering and supporting women. He noted that his character Maui is a guide and supporter to the film's warrior heroine, not the traditional hero.
Who co-chaired the Met Gala 2026?
The Met Gala 2026 was co-chaired by Beyoncé , Nicole Kidman , Serena Williams , and Anna Wintour . The gala's host committee was headed by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz .
