Joey King says beauty treatments and temporary preparations, not cosmetic surgery, changed her appearance before the Met Gala.
American actress Joey King has denied undergoing cosmetic surgery ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, dismissing online speculation that she had a facelift before appearing at the high-profile fashion event.
The 27-year-old Practical Magic 2 actress addressed the rumours during an appearance on the latest episode of the In Your Dreams podcast, where she directly rejected claims that she had undergone a surgical procedure.
“I didn’t get a facelift,” King said, adding that she wanted to set the record straight. She stressed that she “didn’t get work done” and had not undergone a facelift.
Joey King reveals Met Gala beauty preparations
While King confirmed that she did not have plastic surgery, she revealed that she made several temporary changes to her routine in preparation for the Met Gala red carpet.
The actress said she had a spray tan and completed a 36-hour fast, although she emphasised that she did not recommend fasting in that way.
King explained that she had attended a bachelorette party the weekend before the event, where she had been drinking heavily and subsequently felt swollen. She initially planned a 24-hour fast as a reset, but it eventually lasted around 36 hours before she ordered lunch the following day.
The actress also revealed that she underwent several beauty treatments before the fashion event.
These included a lymphatic massage and a facial on the day before the Met Gala, followed by another facial lymphatic massage on the day of the event.
“We were doing everything we could to look amazing on the carpet,” King said, explaining that the combination of treatments and preparations appeared to have been effective.
“Guess what, it worked because everybody thought I had plastic surgery,” she concluded.
Joey King addresses online speculation
King’s comments come after her Met Gala appearance sparked widespread discussion online, with some social media users speculating that changes in her appearance were the result of cosmetic surgery.
The actress has now attributed the change in her appearance to temporary beauty treatments and pre-event preparations, rather than surgical procedures.
Her comments also highlight the intense scrutiny celebrities can face over their appearance, particularly after major red-carpet events such as the Met Gala.