Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Bezos, Sánchez Host Met Gala Party, Co-Chair Costume Art Theme.

5/3/2026

33 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bezos Hosts Gala

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez hosted a Met Gala party on May 2, 2026, in New York City.
They will serve as honorary co-chairs and donors for the Met Gala on Monday, May 4, 2026.
The 2026 Met Gala theme “Costume Art,” curated by Andrew Bolton, will explore clothing and the body in the Met’s Condé M. Nast Galleries.
Guests included Kris Jenner, Sam Smith, Nicole Kidman, Serena Williams with Alexis Ohanian, Anna Wintour and Chloe Malle.

Summary

Bezos Pre-Met

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ICE spent $140 million on Amazon and Microsoft cloud services in 2025, per Forbes.
Jeff Bezos was an honorary co-chair of the 2012 Met Gala, drawing far less controversy.
A disco-themed invite seen by Variety lists a pre-Met celebration on May 2 at 8 p.m.
Activist group Everyone Hates Elon is organizing grassroots protests against the Bezos pre-Met event.

Summary

Bezos Gala Controversy

Zendaya will skip the May 4, 2026 Met Gala after back-to-back press tours for The Drama and Euphoria season three.
Meryl Streep declined a co-chair role because of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s involvement.
Sydney Sweeney, whose lingerie line is funded by Jeff Bezos and who met him at his and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding, is linked to the gala despite her MAGA-aligned profile and praise from U.S. President Donald Trump.

History

Historical Context

Since Vogue began staging the Met Gala in 1971, Anna Wintour took over as chair in 1995 and turned the night into a major fundraiser for the museum. By 2026 the event, now co-chaired by tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez, faces activist protests echoing past disputes over wealthy donors’ influence on cultural institutions.

1 of 4

Bezos Hosts Gala

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez hosted a Met Gala party on May 2, 2026, in New York City.
They will serve as honorary co-chairs and donors for the Met Gala on Monday, May 4, 2026.
The 2026 Met Gala theme “Costume Art,” curated by Andrew Bolton, will explore clothing and the body in the Met’s Condé M. Nast Galleries.
Guests included Kris Jenner, Sam Smith, Nicole Kidman, Serena Williams with Alexis Ohanian, Anna Wintour and Chloe Malle.

1 / 4