Met Gala protest organizers slam Jeff Bezos for cozying up to Melana Trump
Jeff Bezos faces backlash ahead of the 2026 Met Gala as protesters slam his ties to Melania Trump as boycott calls grow over his sponsorship of the high-profile fashion event
View 3 Images Jeff Bezos and Melania Trump
Protesters have taken aim at billionaire Jeff Bezos ahead of the Met Gala, criticizing his links to First Lady Melania Trump.
The backlash comes as the event faces growing pressure, with reports of falling demand and boycott calls tied to the billionaire Amazon founder, 62, and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, 56, and their involvement. At the center is Anna Wintour, who is now facing scrutiny over her connections to powerful backers.
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Activists have also raised concerns about the increasing presence of ultra-wealthy figures at major cultural events like the Met Gala. Speaking in an interview with Hell Gate, a protestor was asked, "In 2026, with the global economy in the bin and an increasing consciousness of the vast global inequity, do you think the Met Gala's cultural power is waning?" It comes amid news that Zohran Mamdani and his wife are set to skip the prestigious event despite receiving an invitation.
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Met Gala tickets reportedly drop in price amid Jeff Bezos boycott and Anna Wintour exit READ MORE :
They then responded, "Yes. I've enjoyed looking at Met Gala dresses in the past, like millions of others, but I am getting sick of the contrast. Our parents were able to hope for better lives for us, but we can no longer hope the same for our children. That's because the world's 12 richest people have more wealth than the poorest half of humanity.”
View 3 Images Jeff and Lauren have been slammed by protestors (Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
They also called out Vogue editor Anna Wintour and the fashion industry for what they claim is a growing closeness to powerful billionaires.
"Art and fashion should be enjoyable. Anna Wintour is ruining the fun by cozying up to a man whose company just spent $75 million on a film about Trump's wife to curry favor with him. They put Jeff Bezos’s wedding on the front cover of Vogue. You're telling me it's because of this bald dude's style? I don't think so. They're being bought off and used. Embarrassing."
View 3 Images The Met Gala has caused controversy in recent days (Image: Everyone Hates Elon / SWNS)
It comes as the Met Gala faces growing pressure ahead of this year’s event, with reports that ticket demand is falling as designers pull back and boycott calls increase over the involvement of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
Insiders claim tables are becoming harder to fill, with backlash aimed at the billionaire couple's role as major sponsors.
The controversy comes despite the gala remaining one of fashion’s biggest nights, with tickets reportedly reaching as high as $100,000 and still drawing global attention.
Anna Wintour has chaired the event since the 1990s. The Met Gala, held annually to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, has long been synonymous with its eye-watering costs. Tables are priced at a whopping $350,000 while individual tickets ran $75,000 in 2025, yet these figures are now sliding downward.
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