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Met Gala 2026: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Spend $10 Million to Co-Host Amid Boycott Calls and A-List Absences
This year’s Met Gala is making headlines for all the wrong reasons—with billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, spending a reported $10 million to co-host the event, only to face growing backlash and high-profile absences from stars like Zendaya and Meryl Streep.
The couple, who married last year, are serving as honorary chairs of the Met Gala and its accompanying “Costume Art” exhibition, alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Their involvement has sparked controversy, with activists calling for a boycott over Bezos’ ties to Amazon and its labor practices. Protest posters have even appeared around New York City, reading, “Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation.”
The fallout has already led to notable absences. Zendaya, who attended last year’s gala, will not be making an appearance this time around. According to Elle, the actress is prioritizing her busy schedule, which includes press tours for The Drama and Euphoria Season 3, as well as promotions for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Meryl Streep, another Met Gala regular, is also skipping the event. Reports suggest her absence is part of a broader protest against Bezos’ sponsorship, with some industry insiders questioning the event’s alignment with its usual progressive values.
The Met Gala, known for its lavish displays of fashion and celebrity, is set to take place on Monday, May 4, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the event will still feature a star-studded lineup—including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams—the controversy surrounding its lead sponsors has cast a shadow over what is typically fashion’s biggest night.
For now, the debate over wealth, labor, and celebrity participation continues, leaving many to wonder if the Met Gala’s reputation as the pinnacle of high fashion is being tested like never before.
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