Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos are lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs of Met Gala 2026.Wikimedia Commons/Number 10
While fashion and creativity are usually the focal points of the Met Gala every year, 2026 seems to be heading toward a different direction.
As celebrities prepare to step onto the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos continue to spark debates on social media.
The two high-profile sponsors of this year’s Met Gala seem to have shifted the attention from the red carpet to controversies and boycotts.
‘Very Hurtful and Very Disturbing’
So far, the Met Gala has been led for decades by fashion icon Anna Wintour, with most attention usually on celebrity outfits and who gets invited.
With Bezos and Sanchez Bezos appearing as lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs of the event, the tone of the exhibition appears to have changed overnight.
Insiders claim the gala now feels less about fashion and more about power and wealth.
Speaking with theDaily Mail, one source noted that the Bezos’ presence feels “hurtful and disturbing,” especially for those who value the event’s cultural importance.
The source added that “It feels like a real slap in the face to a lot of people” in the fashion community.
“It’s, quite frankly, very hurtful and very disturbing for [the Bezos’] to be the face of this year’s Met Gala, something that is really meaningful to a lot of people and to such a highly regarded and highly respected institution,” the source stated.
Meanwhile, reports also suggest that at least one major Hollywood name has chosen to distance themselves from the event due to the involvement of the Bezos couple.
According to several insiders, it is none other than Meryl Streep, who was previously considered for a co-chair role at the Met Gala.
However, Streep reportedly declined the opportunity citing discomfort with the Bezos’ financial influence and high-profile presence.
Activists Call for Boycott of Met Gala 2026
Beyond Streep’s alleged decision to step down as co-chair, backlash over the Met Gala has continued to grow.
Online criticism has intensified since Bezos and Sanchez Bezos’ sponsorship announcement.
In addition, protests have also moved offline, as activist groups like Everyone Hates Elon have placed boycott posters across New York City.
Further, the controversy about wealth and access gained traction as individual ticket prices were revealed.
Tickets per person reportedly cost $100,000, while tables can reach $350,000, making it one of the most exclusive events in the world.
While the Met Gala is known for its extravaganza, people believe that this year’s event is overdoing things in the midst of a global war and economic crises.
While speaking with the Daily Mail, Amy Odell, author of Anna: The Biography, highlighted how the Met Gala has been funded by major fashion houses rather than individual sponsors in the past, thus raising questions about Bezos and his wife’s involvement.
“The Met Gala is not normally primarily sponsored by individual donors,” Odell said.
“It’s normally brands that take on that task to foot the bill. For the leading sponsors to be two individuals is unusual. And they’re not popular, so that’s been very controversial as for why she [Anna] went to them,” Odell added.
Following Odell’s comments, sources noted how the decision to choose Bezos as a sponsor reflects a weaker fashion industry.
Others suggested that it appears as a clear display of wealth and influence.
“It’s much easier to wrap your head around a luxury brand that has been around for decades having the resources to sponsor an event like the Met Gala,” a source said, adding, “But to reckon with the idea that two individuals can do it during a time like now, I think a lot of people question the ethics of that kind of wealth.”
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