There were a few heated rivals of Hudson Williams’ look at the 2026 Met Gala.

Though the Heated Rivalry star endeared many of his fans with his powder blue Balenciaga suit and bold red-and-blue eye makeup, he seemed to polarize other online users who saw the glam as “messy.”

Amid the backlash, Hudson’s longtime groomer Aika Flores responded, sharing she is able to “receive all feedback, positive & negative, with grace & gratitude.”

“It’s all part of growth,” Aika wrote on Threads May 6. “Taking a risk always comes at a cost, & I stand by that. There’s always room to evolve, no matter where I am in my career.”

But while the groomer—who has also worked with clients such as Joe Jonas and Alex Warren—seemed willing to engage with critics, she also called on commenters to speak out with empathy.

“While everyone is entitled to an opinion,” Aika continued, “it’s important to remember there’s a human with feelings behind the work, building something with purpose, vision, & heart. It cost [sic] nothing to be kind.”