The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual gala is facing unprecedented backlash this year as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, step into the role of honorary chairs. Multiple celebrities have opted out of Monday night's event, and activist groups are calling for a boycott, citing Bezos's company's labor practices.
Model Bella Hadid, a regular at past galas, signaled her disapproval by liking an Instagram video that called out celebrities planning to attend. Actress Taraji P. Henson, who attended last year, commented on the same post, expressing confusion and frustration: “I am so confused by some ppl that are going. I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!”
Meryl Streep, whose new film “The Devil Wears Prada 2” just hit theaters, will also skip the event. But her absence isn't a protest; a representative told People that Streep has never attended despite repeated invitations, adding that the gala “has never quite been her scene.” The film's release has stirred controversy of its own, with Asian boycotts erupting over a character name seen as a racist slur.
Zendaya, another high-profile star, is also absent, though reports from Elle attribute that to her press tour schedule for “The Drama” and “Euphoria” Season 3.
The protests extend beyond celebrity social media. On Sunday, the activist group Everybody Hates Elon projected “Boycott the Bezos Met Gala” onto Bezos's Manhattan penthouse. Members claim they have hidden bottles of fake urine inside the museum, a pointed reference to allegations that Amazon warehouse workers are forced to urinate in bottles due to demanding shift schedules.
Those allegations gained legal traction in December 2024, when Amazon settled with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over federal workplace safety violations, agreeing to pay $145,000. The settlement has fueled criticism of Bezos's role at a charity event meant to benefit the museum's Costume Institute.
The gala, first held in 1948, is a major fundraiser for the museum. Bezos and his wife were announced as honorary chairs in February, alongside their role as lead sponsors. The controversy highlights growing tensions between elite philanthropy and corporate accountability, a dynamic that has also played out in other political arenas, such as House GOP efforts to fund ICE and Border Patrol.
Amazon has not commented on the boycott or the protest. The company's labor practices have been a recurring issue, with critics pointing to the OSHA settlement as evidence of systemic problems. The Met Gala, meanwhile, proceeds as scheduled, but with a cloud of activism that may overshadow the evening's glamour.
