Jeremy Pope Says He 'Manifested' His Over-the-Top Met Gala Appearance: 'What a Moment This Was'

At the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala in New York City, the actor climbed the fashion event's famed steps on Monday revealing a 30-foot-long black-and-white cape with the late designer's face

Jeremy Pope took the "Karl Lagerfeld" theme at this year's Met Gala to its own level entirely.

Making a jaw-dropping entrance on Monday in custom Balmain, the actor climbed the New York City gala's famed steps revealing a 30-foot-long black-and-white cape adorned with the late designer's face.

"Met Gala - Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty crafted together with the most beautiful souls," Pope, 30, captioned a stunning shot Tuesday on Instagram. "Thank you Balmain family & all of the hands that worked towards creating this special moment. Your dedication to the vision was the only way this was possible."

Continuing the post, Pope said in 2015, he "manifested that one day Olivier and I would somehow cross paths and have the chance to collaborate and create together. well damn — what a moment this was. forever love to Ugo for grounding every step along the way."

Pope then thanked Anna Wintour and Vogue magazine for the prestigious invite.

"You are an authentic reminder that Heart, Faith, Soul, & Talent still exists in this industry. Honored for the opportunity to create with you Champ!! 🦅," Ugo Mozie replied in the comments section.

"the way my jaw was on the floor when i first saw this….," another follower expressed of Pope's mesmerizing display on the white carpet.

Related:Jeremy Pope on Wanting to Be a 'Black Queer Movie Star' Growing Up: 'It's Been a Challenge'

Clearly catapulting his status, the Broadway star, who is only the sixth person in Tony Award history to be nominated for separate performances during the same year (for Choir Boy and Ain't Too Proud in 2019), has always dreamed big. But before his career took off, Pope wasn't sure what his future held.

"Growing up I had never seen a Black queer movie star," The Inspection star told PEOPLE in November. "If that was something that I was going to be, was my queerness something I was going to have to hide? It's definitely been a challenge to abandon a lot of fears that have been put on me."

As a teenager in Orlando, Fla., Pope recalls having "to choose between running track or doing the school musical, which was Cats," one year. "I got to meet this community of people who were so fun, free, loving and supportive, in a different way outside of sports," he said. "It changed my life."

"Masculinity is so fragile to some people, specifically in the Black community, that I had to relearn how to show up for myself," he added.

And show up indeed! Pope has basically "won" the 2023 Met Gala according to social media.

Related:Every Met Gala 2023 Red Carpet Look You Must See

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art's "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" exhibit, which opens to the public May 5, features 150 of the icon's designs, including his looks for Chanel, Fendi, Balmain, Chloé and his personal line.

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