NEW YORK, May 7: On Monday, South Asian fans around the world eagerly tuned in to the Met Gala, anticipating the arrivals of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, affectionately known as King Khan, and record-breaking artist and actor Diljit Dosanjh. This marked the first time both stars graced what is widely regarded as fashion's most prestigious red carpet. However, the excitement quickly turned to disappointment for many when it became apparent that the two South Asian superstars were not receiving the respect they deserved, despite their enormous international followings.

Shah Rukh Khan, a global superstar, was the subject of a 2019 episode of David Letterman’s Netflix interview series, and his influence extends far beyond India. Meanwhile, since 2020, Diljit has consistently topped global music charts and worked with internationally acclaimed artists like Sia and Ed Sheeran. Both have amassed a vast fanbase, yet their appearances on the Met Gala red carpet were met with a surprising lack of acknowledgment from the event’s livestream hosts.

During an interview with Mr. Khan and his designer, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, on the Vogue livestream, hosts Teyana Taylor and Ego Nwodim seemed unfamiliar with Mr. Khan's immense stature. At one point, Ms. Nwodim gestured to Mr. Mukherjee and asked, “And this is the designer tonight?” After a brief, awkward exchange about whether Mr. Khan was nervous about walking the Met steps, Mr. Mukherjee stepped in to clarify, saying, “Shah Rukh Khan is probably one of the most famous men in the world.”

While Mr. Khan may not be as widely recognized in the U.S. as some of the other celebrities at the event, his influence is undeniable. With a career spanning over three decades, Mr. Khan has become a global phenomenon. In 2023, Time magazine named him one of the world’s most influential people, and in 2015, Forbes estimated that his earnings could make him the highest-paid movie star globally.

The treatment of the two stars was quickly criticized online. The creator behind DietSabya, an Instagram account with over 500,000 followers focused on Bollywood and fashion, called the interaction on the red carpet “a hot mess” in an email. Speaking anonymously, the creator expressed disbelief, saying they couldn’t imagine a similar lack of respect being shown to someone of Mr. Khan’s stature in Hollywood. “Not to a global icon who has carried an entire industry on his back for over three decades,” they added.

Others echoed the sentiment. “The carpet was lucky he walked on it!” said Jeremy Franco in an Instagram video, which has since garnered nearly three million views.

Later in the evening, Diljit Dosanjh, who has sold out arenas across North America and earned international acclaim, appeared on the red carpet wearing a culturally significant outfit. The livestream briefly focused on him, but only for a few seconds before quickly cutting away. Ms. Taylor and Ms. Nwodim did not interview him.

“My heart broke by how quickly the camera panned away from him,” said Jasleen Singh in a TikTok video, which has over 128,000 views. “I understand that a lot of people in the United States, and even photographers and journalists, might not know who he is, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not as significant as the other people.”

A representative for Vogue later commented that Ms. Nwodim had acknowledged Mr. Khan’s historic appearance as the first male Bollywood star at the Met Gala, and added that the decision to cut away from Diljit was “certainly not intentional.”