Brooke Shields rocking a cane at the Met Costume Institute Gala

Actress Brooke Shields, looking simply marvelous in a draped J. Mendel gown at the Met Costume Institute Gala on Monday evening (May 7), had a bit of an unusual accessory to go with her dress and clutch - a cane.

Was it a fashion statement? No, not really.

Shields tells E! News host Giuliana Rancic that she tore her meniscus, which means she ruptured one of the fibrocartilage strips in her knee, while performing in the Broadway musical "The Addams Family." Shields took over the role of Morticia Addams from Bebe Neuwirth in June 2011 and performed in the production until it closed on Dec. 31, 2011.

But she says it was "not a big deal," just an inconvenience and she did wear flip flops under her floor-length gown instead of high heels. And at 6'0, we think if anyone can pull off flip flops on the red carpet, it's the statuesque Brooke Shields.