Protesters are now calling the annual Costume Institute gala the “Bezos Met Gala” because reports say that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his partner, Sánchez, are paying for a large part of the event’s budget. Some people say that putting billionaire money into a cultural institution could turn high fashion into a way for big businesses to show off their power, especially since Amazon has a history of labor disputes and accusations of breaking up unions.
Glossy protest posters have started showing up on boarded-up storefronts and subway-adjacent walls all over Manhattan, especially near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A popular design shows a plastic water bottle on a fake red carpet with the words “The Bezos Met Gala” written on it. “Boycott the Bezos Met Gala,” says one larger sign, while another smaller sign says “Brought to you by worker exploitation.” The smaller sign also accuses Bezos of being connected to tax evasion, ICE, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Activist group *Everyone Hates Elon* is supporting the campaign by making poster files available for download and raising over **$10,000 in about a week** to pay for printing and distribution, according to the organizers.
Protesters have openly talked about using coordinated chants, signs, and live coverage on social media to change the mood of the event. They want to shift global attention away from fashion and toward criticism of Amazon’s labor practices and ties to data policy.
People in the fashion industry have different opinions. Some people close to the situation say that Bezos and Sánchez are powerful new patrons who can pay for big shows and help the Met reach more people. Others, however, say that the Met could “sell out” its cultural credibility to a billionaire couple who are already in hot water for their political and business ties. As the date of the gala gets closer, the conflict between artistic prestige and corporate sponsorship is becoming a major story line for the 2026 season.
