Stars to miss Met Gala backed by Jeff Bezos
The Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Anna Wintour reportedly secured a record $10 million sponsorship from Jeff Bezos for the Met Gala, sparking backlash over perceived transactional access to the prestigious event.
- Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez will co-chair the gala, but several prominent figures, including Meryl Streep and Zendaya, are skipping the event in protest.
- The rising cost of individual tickets to $100,000 and corporate purchases by companies like Meta and OpenAI have intensified concerns about exclusivity and commercialization.
- Critics highlight Bezos's political associations and Amazon's labor controversies, with protests planned against what some see as exploitation linked to the gala's sponsorship.
- Despite the controversy, high-profile celebrities such as Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams will attend, maintaining the event's star-studded allure.
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