The annual Met Gala press conference for the Costume Institute's spring exhibition typically exudes stately elegance, but this year's event felt like a scene from a feudal court. Amid the marble sculptures of the American wing, Anna Wintour introduced Lauren Sánchez Bezos as a "force for joy," praising her and her husband Jeff for their generosity. Meanwhile, outside, protests against the Bezoses' involvement had been raging for days, highlighting a stark disconnect between the glittering gala and public sentiment.
The Met Gala has long been a target for anti-excess demonstrations, but 2026 proved especially contentious due to the $10 million patronage of honorary co-chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. This wasn't Bezos's first time bankrolling the event—Amazon sponsored it in 2012—but the timing amplified tensions. With inequality soaring, Bezos's immense wealth and controversial political maneuvering, including decisions that appeared to appease Donald Trump, have made him increasingly unpopular among New York City's left-leaning fashion and arts community.