NEW YORK (Azat TV) – The 2026 Met Gala, held this past Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has concluded under a cloud of controversy centered on its primary sponsors, Lauren Sánchez Bezos and her husband, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The couple’s high-profile involvement as honorary cochairs triggered a series of grassroots protests across New York City, marking a significant departure from the typical reception of the annual fashion fundraiser.
Protests and Political Friction at the Met Gala
In the weeks leading up to the event, activist groups, including those aligned with the collective Everyone Hates Elon, blanketed Manhattan with posters calling for a boycott of the gala. The opposition cited Amazon’s professional ties to the Trump administration and alleged corporate complicity with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Reports indicate that federal agencies, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection, utilized millions in cloud services provided by Amazon and Microsoft throughout 2025, a point of contention that served as the primary catalyst for the demonstrations.
The political fallout extended to local government as well. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani notably declined his invitation to the gala, citing a commitment to focus on urban affordability rather than participating in the high-profile industry event. This public snub underscored the growing tension between the gala’s elite donor base and activists concerned with the socioeconomic implications of tech-industry wealth.
Media Criticism and Personal Scrutiny
Beyond the political protests, the couple faced intense personal scrutiny following the event. Media personality Megyn Kelly used her podcast on Tuesday to launch a pointed critique of Sánchez Bezos, specifically targeting her appearance. Kelly’s remarks, which focused on cosmetic procedures and facial aesthetics, drew widespread attention for their aggressive tone, highlighting the vitriolic nature of the public discourse surrounding the couple’s recent foray into the center of the fashion world.
The Bezoses, who were announced as primary sponsors in November 2025, joined an illustrious list of past honorary chairs, including Beyoncé, Tom Ford, and Salma Hayek. However, unlike previous years, the 2026 iteration was defined by its struggle to balance the prestige of the Costume Institute’s fundraiser with the public perception of its lead benefactors.
The controversy surrounding the 2026 Met Gala reflects a growing trend in which the intersection of extreme private wealth, political lobbying, and cultural institutions is increasingly subject to public audit, effectively transforming the red carpet into a flashpoint for broader societal grievances regarding corporate accountability.