Protesters gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's rooftop garden in New York City to oppose Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's roles as honorary chairs.
The demonstrations highlight a growing tension between the world's wealthiest individuals and public perceptions of corporate ethics during high-profile cultural events. Critics argue that the visibility of such wealth at a fundraiser underscores systemic global inequity.
Bezos and Sanchez served as honorary chairs for the May 2026 event. This appointment followed a reported donation of $10 million [1] to the gala's fundraiser.
Activists gathered at the museum to argue that the presence of a billionaire at the event diverts attention from pressing social issues. The contrast between the luxury of the gala and the struggles of the general population served as the primary catalyst for the demonstrations.
Mark O’Connell said, “This is sort of like Versailles or something, you know, like these people partying when people are hungry and where there's all these like global inequity happening.”
The Met Gala is an annual event that raises funds for the museum's costume institute. While the event traditionally features a mix of celebrities and business leaders, the scale of the protests this year reflects a sharper focus on the source of the funding and the influence of tech industry wealth.
Security remained present at the rooftop garden as protesters voiced their opposition to the honorary chair appointments. The event continued despite the demonstrations, maintaining its schedule of fashion and philanthropy.
““This is sort of like Versailles or something... these people partying when people are hungry.””
The backlash against the honorary appointments suggests that philanthropic donations are no longer sufficient to shield high-net-worth individuals from public scrutiny. As wealth inequality becomes a central theme in global political discourse, cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art may face increased pressure to vet the public image of their donors and chairs to avoid reputational risks.
