Marcello Hernández Makes His Met Gala Debut Honoring His Cuban and Dominican Roots

May 5, 2026

Cuban-Dominican comedian and actor Marcello Hernández, one of the most prominent Latino voices in American entertainment, made his debut at the 2026 Met Gala on May 4, turning the red carpet of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art into a personal tribute to his Cuban and Dominican heritage.

Hernández arrived at the event in a custom double-breasted Thom Browne black herringbone suit, accompanied by his girlfriend, architect and designer Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral. The most meaningful detail of the look was a trio of spiritual symbols pinned to his jacket lapel: an azabache (a protective stone rooted in Cuban and Caribbean tradition), a piece of larimar (a rare stone found only in the Dominican Republic), and a guardian angel charm. The brooch was handmade by his mother, Isabel Cancela — of Cuban origin — at a Calle Ocho jewelry shop in Miami.

"My mom made me this with Sammy Euler in la Calle Ocho," Hernández told media on arrival. "I have my angel de la guarda, an azabache for protection, and larimar, which is a Dominican stone." The gesture underscored the deep connection he maintains with his Caribbean roots, even on fashion's biggest night.

Born in Miami on August 19, 1997, to a Dominican father and a Cuban mother, Marcello Hernández joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2022, becoming the first Gen Z comedian in the show's history. In 2024, he was promoted to repertory player at the start of SNL's landmark 50th season. In January 2026, he released his debut stand-up special, American Boy, on Netflix. His Met Gala debut cements his standing as one of the most visible and influential Latino figures in American entertainment today.