Met Gala 2026 hit with boycott calls as Jeff Bezos role sparks backlash

Fashion’s biggest night is facing mounting controversy months before the red carpet, with some fans vowing to boycott the 2026 Met Gala after scrutiny over Jeff Bezos’ involvement.

Vogue recently unveiled the gala’s dress code, “Fashion Is Art”, alongside a star-studded roster of co-chairs and host committee members.

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The line-up includes Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Zoë Kravitz and Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello, with celebrity hosts such as Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Teyana Taylor, Lena Dunham, Angela Bassett, Sam Smith and Blackpink’s Lisa also attached.

However, backlash quickly erupted after followers noticed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos were not highlighted in the social media reveal despite their involvement.

According to The New York Times, the couple’s role as both lead sponsors and honorary chairs, the first time they have held the title, was mentioned only on the second page of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s announcement.

The omission fuelled accusations that organisers were downplaying the pair’s role.

“How come the Bezoses aren’t featured? They’re still funding it. Trying to avoid backlash again,” one user wrote online.

Several commenters said the billionaire backing had dampened their interest in the event, with some threatening to skip watching the red carpet altogether.

“Unfortunately, with the Bezos’ involvement, I’ve lost interest,” another wrote.

Others questioned whether an event celebrating artistic expression could separate itself from debates around wealth and influence when financed by one of the world’s richest figures.

The newly announced theme also drew criticism from some fashion followers, who described “Fashion Is Art” as overly broad.

“They’re getting vaguer each year for the celebrities to fit the theme easier,” one commenter wrote.

The Met Gala, overseen by Anna Wintour since 1995, has long relied on luxury brands and corporate sponsors, though the prominence of individual donors has intensified scrutiny this year.

Wintour previously defended Sánchez Bezos’ involvement in an interview with CNN, describing her as a strong supporter of fashion and thanking her for her generosity toward the museum.

The 2026 gala will also be the first following leadership changes at Vogue, with Wintour moving into a broader global role at Condé Nast while retaining control of the event.

Whether the boycott calls will translate into real-world impact remains unclear.