AceShowbiz - Tonight marks the highly anticipated Met Gala, but this year’s event is unlike any before. For the first time in its history, the gala’s lead sponsorship comes from private individuals rather than a corporation. Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, and his wife Lauren Sanchez are the headline sponsors, having reportedly contributed $10 million (£7.37m) to the event. This unprecedented involvement has ignited significant backlash, sparking protests and prompting numerous high-profile celebrities to skip the occasion.

The gala, traditionally held on the first Monday in May in New York City, is renowned as a pinnacle of fashion and celebrity culture. This year, alongside Bezos and Sanchez, honorary co-chairs include Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. However, the presence of Bezos and Sanchez as co-chairs has stirred controversy given Bezos's business practices and political associations.

Across New York, protest posters demand a boycott of the event. One prominent sign reads: "Boycott the Bezos Met Ball: Brought to you by worker exploitation." Other posters highlight Amazon’s ties to immigration enforcement agencies, particularly ICE. One message bluntly states: "There’s no dressing it up. Met Gala chair Jeff Bezos avoids tax, enables ICE, and backs Trump. Don’t let him get away with it."

These protests stem partly from Amazon’s contracts with ICE and the fact that Amazon Web Services hosts data for Palantir, a company providing software to help ICE track immigrants. Various groups, including the Service Employees International Union, the Strategic Organising Centre, and the Amazon Labour Union, are organizing a counter-event called the "Ball Without Billionaires." This demonstration will feature workers from Amazon, Uber, and Starbucks modeling clothing made by ethical designers, directly challenging the gala’s lavish display of wealth.

This is not the first time Bezos and Sanchez have faced public dissent linked to their lavish celebrations. Their 2025 wedding in Venice sparked the "No Space for Bezos" protests as residents demanded the couple relocate their venue from the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia. Protesters carried signs reading, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax," underscoring local frustrations with wealth and tax avoidance.

The couple’s involvement with the Met Gala reportedly stems from Sanchez’s passion for fashion. Anna Wintour told CNN that Sanchez would be "a wonderful asset to the museum and to the event," praising her as "a great lover of costume and obviously of fashion." While Bezos has previously been an honorary chair in 2012, when Amazon was a lead sponsor, this year’s scale of participation is notably larger.

Not all stars are embracing the gala under these circumstances. Model Bella Hadid, who has attended the Met Gala five times, has publicly criticized those attending this year. She liked an Instagram post from activist Meredith Lynch stating, "You cannot wear the ICE out pin to the Jeff Bezos backed Met Gala. Jeff Bezos is part of the reason we’re in this mess." Fans quickly interpreted this as a sign that Hadid would boycott the event.

Another celebrity reportedly skipping the gala is actress Zendaya. Sources tell Elle magazine that her absence is not due to the sponsorship controversy but rather because of scheduling conflicts with back-to-back press appearances for her projects The Drama and Euphoria. Despite this, many see her absence as part of a wider trend of stars distancing themselves from the event.

Support for the protest sentiment extends beyond Hadid. Actress Taraji P. Henson commented on the Instagram post, expressing confusion and frustration, saying, "I am so confused by some ppl that are going. I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!" This highlights the tension within the celebrity community regarding participation.

New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has made a historic decision by choosing not to attend the gala. He is the first mayor since 2002 to skip the event. Mamdani stated that he would rather focus his time on efforts to make New York City "the most expensive city in the United States affordable," signaling a political stance that contrasts with the gala’s opulence.

Meanwhile, rumors circulated about other notable no-shows. Meryl Streep was also reported to be absent. Her representative confirmed to HELLO! magazine that although she has been invited for many years, the gala "has never quite been her scene." She appreciates the creativity of Vogue and Wintour but prefers to stay away from the event.

As the Met Gala unfolds tonight, it stands as a unique cultural moment marked both by glamour and growing discord. The involvement of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez has triggered protests and led to the withdrawal of prominent stars, shining a spotlight on the complex intersection of fashion, celebrity, politics, and activism. Whether the event will maintain its traditional allure or become a focal point for ongoing social debates remains to be seen.

For those following the evolving story, it’s clear the 2026 Met Gala represents more than just a night of high fashion—it is a reflection of broader societal tensions about wealth, power, and responsibility in today’s world.