As celebrities and influencers prepare to climb the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for fashion’s premier event on Monday, attention shifts from gowns to controversy. Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and billionaire, along with his wife Lauren Sánchez, serve as lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs, drawing sharp criticism from industry insiders.
Insider Backlash and ‘Slap in the Face’
A fashion industry insider describes the couple’s prominent roles as deeply troubling. “It’s quite frankly very hurtful and disturbing for the Bezoses to be the face of this year’s Met Gala, something meaningful to many and a respected institution,” the insider stated. “It feels like a real slap in the face to a lot of people.”
Their involvement has overshadowed the event, often called the Oscars of fashion. Sources indicate at least one major celebrity withdrew from participation due to this sponsorship.
Meryl Streep Reportedly Backs Out
Rumors suggest Meryl Streep, featured on the May 2026 Vogue cover with Anna Wintour promoting The Devil Wears Prada 2, was invited as a co-chair but declined over the Bezoses’ roles. Representatives for Streep did not respond to requests for comment.
Building Tensions Since Announcement
Criticism intensified after the November reveal. Bezos’s perceived ties to the Trump administration have fueled outrage. Social media users have dubbed it the “Jeff Bezos Nazi Met Gala,” while activists post boycott posters across New York City subways and streets.
Internally, dissent simmers among event planners, a fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute. The insider noted the fashion world’s liberal leanings: “The industry overwhelmingly supports Democratic candidates. Attendees and Vogue endorsements reflect this.”
The couple’s politics—linked to efforts against DEI, Roe v. Wade protections, voting rights, and immigration policies—clash with these values, sources say.
Past Controversies and Wealth Scrutiny
The Bezoses face familiar backlash. Their June 2025 Venice wedding sparked protests, and Sánchez’s April 2025 Blue Origin spaceflight drew accusations of excess. With Bezos’s $259 billion net worth, recent layoffs at Amazon and the Washington Post—affecting over 16,300 jobs—add fuel.
Many view the sponsorship as a bid for entry into fashion’s elite. The couple mingled with Wintour and designers like Dior’s Jonathan Anderson at Paris Couture Week and featured in a 2025 Vogue digital cover showcasing Sánchez’s wedding dress.
Tickets cost $100,000 each, tables $350,000, amplifying perceptions of financial flexing amid global struggles like war and inequality.
Unusual Sponsorship and Wintour’s Influence
Their honorary co-chair positions signal endorsement from Wintour, Met Gala chair for over 30 years. Amy Odell, author of Anna: The Biography, highlights the rarity: “The Met Gala typically relies on brands, not individuals, for primary sponsorship. Their immense wealth makes it pocket change, but it’s controversial.”
Odell attributes the choice to luxury sector slumps post-pandemic, with groups like Kering and LVMH cutting back. The insider agrees: “Luxury brands have history; individual billionaires raise ethical questions now.”
Leadership Shifts at Vogue
Speculation ties changes to Wintour’s late 2025 shift from Vogue editorial director to Chloe Malle’s promotion as Head of Editorial Content. Odell insists Wintour’s Met Gala sway remains strong: “It’s not a step back; it frees her for key projects like this.”
Malle, who penned positive Vogue profiles on Sánchez, aligns with these decisions, sources indicate.
Broader Sociopolitical Context
Odell frames reactions as era-driven: “Billionaires face dislike amid stark inequality—a political flashpoint unlike 2015.” Critics call platforming the Bezoses hypocritical after 2025’s Black dandy theme, seen as performative now.
Odell notes Wintour’s draw to power: Sources describe her as “attracted to people who are powerful,” a timeless trait. Representatives for Vogue and the Bezoses offered no comment.
