By Lieba Nesis —
The Hamptons took over the party scene as celebrities spilled into Bridgehampton for Michael Rubin’s White Party. Helicopters and private planes were used to import guests for the day. The rapper Travis Scott even brought his Utopia concert bus to Bridgehampton.
Streets were closed off and cars blocked the driveways for the biggest weekend of the year. Hired photographers and actual paparazzi stood with their cameras on the sharp turns leading up to the house as security waived attendees in. The superrich – like Alexandre Arnault (son of), the rarely seen Len Blavatnik, and the ubiquitous Robert Kraft — joined hundreds for what some were hopefully calling, perhaps a little early, the party of the summer.
Maybe it was white privilege at its best. Certainly, the entrepreneur and Fanatics mogul Michael Rubin hyped the party before and especially afterward for all it was worth. He must have a pipeline directly to “The New York Post” and TikTok.
But here it was: 5 PM. Monday July 3. Wear White. Michael Rubin’s house. His own photographer, Kevin Mazur, who shoots the Met Costume Institute Gala, was on the inside to capture the magic.
WHO WAS NOT THERE?
No one of note. Except maybe you. And Drake, a surprising no-show.
Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé and Jay Z, Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, DJ Khaled, James Corden, Meek Mill, Tiffany Haddish, Lil Baby, Odell Beckham Jr., Joe Burrow, Micah Parsons, C.J. Stroud, Robert Kraft and Dana Blumberg, David and Nicole Tepper, Dean Spanos, Winnie Harlow, Kenny Chesney, Jed York, Josh Harris, David Blitzer and The Chainsmokers. And the soccer star Kylian Mbappe. For starters.
Numerous attendees claimed the festivities had surprisingly lackluster entertainment by Ne-Yo and Usher. Even Meek Mill didn’t impress.
Was this the best Rubin could do? Kevin Hart used the stage to promote his tequila brand: Gran Coramino. The Fat Jewish was seen in underwear and chaps with his butt cheeks, along with their pimples, on display.
Emily Ratajkowski could be seen shimmying in a thong. When you are competing for publicity with a Kardashian you’d better up your game!
Nobu catered the cocktail party; the rather sparse dinner was from Cucina Alba and Lucali. Some guests headed to 7-Eleven after for food. But the party was really about the epic mix of sports stars, billionaires, celebrities, models, entertainers, influencers, and rappers.
Kevin Durant, Charlie and Dixie D’Amelio were there. Kendall Jenner came as did Jennifer and Lynda Lopez along with Ben Affleck and his daughter Violet. JLo and her family stood isolated from the mob for most of the evening, aside from a short conversation with Tom Brady.
Beyoncé, fresh off her worldwide tour, trekked to the Hamptons in a top-secret operation along with Hailey and Justin Bieber and DiCaprio, who (for once) voluntarily posed for pictures.
Rubin is said to be worth $11.3 billion through sports licensing and e-commerce. Many luminaries were there for business purposes, knowing that Rubin’s net worth has gone up billions after hosting his annual party.
And maybe that explains how he was able to close off dozens of narrow Bridgehampton streets from 4pm to 5am, when the Hamptons are notorious for shutting parties down after five minutes because of noise complaints.
He surely invited his closest neighbors to placate them. Despite claims of extra security, all it took was a name on a list with some form of state ID. The throngs of guards were just for intimidation.
There were other parties in the Hamptons over the Fourth that got no attention, including Robert Downey Jr.’s in East Hampton. Oprah and Gayle King went to half-a-dozen parties over the weekend and lunch on Monday at Walter Odom’s home in Sag Harbor. Not a word.
Rubin’s party won the weekend.