In the newly released film The Devil Wears Prada 2, the villainous tech mogul Benji Barnes — played by Justin Theroux — bears more than a passing resemblance to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. His girlfriend, meanwhile, mirrors the real-life Lauren Sánchez Bezos, whose taste for luxury and influence propels the story forward.
Critic Robin Givhan argues that Sánchez Bezos embodies the fashion industry's current crisis: escalating prices that cater only to the ultrarich, while the middle class is priced out. As honorary co-chair of this year's Met Gala — alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour — Sánchez Bezos is the face of what fashion has surrendered to: economic inequality wrapped in couture.
The Met Gala, once a bastion of taste and creativity, now serves as a laundering ground for tech wealth, with Sánchez Bezos as its glittering symbol. Her presence highlights how ruthless tech titans attempt to optimize culture for their own gain, leaving a trail of controversy and boycott calls in their wake.