0 comments
With war raging around the world this year, should we still be lauding celebrities for their expensive outfits and elitist parties? As costs soar and wealth inequality widens, it feels harder to engage with it all, especially given the Met Gala’s insistence on billionaire endorsements.
The Met Gala is back, folks, with all the usual celebrity appearances and outfits making their annual rounds across social media.
Regular attendees like Rihanna, Jay Z, Beyonce, and Emma Chamberlain were present, each with their own spin on this year’s theme of ‘costume art.’ Newcomers included Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Lui, and actress Chase Infiniti, among others.
2026 was a big success for the Met Gala, with a record-breaking $42 million USD raised for the Costume Institute, a self-funded, curatorial sector within the museum. It also celebrated the opening of a new, central location for the department called ‘Conde M. Nast Galleries,’ moving its operations out of the building’s basement for the first time.
Yet, despite all the positives, there was a vocal backlash and public disillusionment toward this year’s proceedings.
As celebrities, tech moguls, and botoxed billionaires hit the red carpet, it was hard not to feel a little miffed at the spectacle of it all, given this year’s Iran war and the continuously growing wealth divide across the world. Critics likened it to a billionaire’s circus, comparing the ordeal to the Hunger Games. As the influence of celebrity status wanes with Gen Z, are we reaching maximum public capacity for these types of events?
What are critics saying about the Met Gala?
Perhaps the biggest criticism of the Met Gala this year was the decision to make Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez honorary chairs and major financial backers. They reportedly donated $10 million USD.
The move was seen as evidence that tech moguls and the ultrarich are becoming increasingly entrenched in cultural and artistic institutions. Unease around these tycoons and their sphere of influence is growing as the wealth divide steadily rises. As Business Insider points out, billionaire wealth has risen 13% from 2024, and a 2025 survey by The Harris Poll found that up to 47% of the public ‘despise’ billionaires.
This disdain can be seen in policy and public protests. Activist group ‘Everyone Hates Elon’ left 500 bottles of fake urine throughout the museum, for example, referencing Amazon employees who were unable to go to the bathroom while working due to tight deadlines.
A coalition of unions put on an event called the ‘Ball Without Billionaires’ on Monday in Manhattan ahead of the Met Gala, showcasing employees who work for big companies like Amazon, Whole Foods, and The Washington Post. Regular delivery drivers and warehouse packers walked the runway, fashioning designs by local New York creatives. It was both an obvious dig at the real Met Gala’s indulgent embrace of wealth and a championing of ordinary workers whose everyday efforts allow billionaires to succeed.
We are so proud to participate in the Ball Without Billionaires.
And Teamster Amazon Drivers Latrice and Lamont DESTROYED ON THE RUNWAY.
LABOR IS ART!!!! https://t.co/RjI0pkurEM pic.twitter.com/C1dYTrYbHk
— Teamsters Local 804 (@804_local) May 4, 2026
Beyond its billionaire ties, the Met Gala has also faced growing backlash for being absurdist and ‘creepy.’
As celebrities continue to wear increasingly surreal and abstract outfits, the event is continually compared to The Hunger Games for being a strange, alienating display of importance. Katy Perry covered her face with a robot mask this year, Sarah Paulson had a one-dollar bill mask, and Manish Malhotra sported sculptures all over his shoulders. This is not relatable or understandable to the average person who may only purchase one or two garments every few months.
Sarah Paulson wears dollar bill over her eyes to call out the ‘One Percent.’
The actress, who is worth an estimated $12 million, used her outfit to call out the world’s elite while attending the $100,000 per person Met Gala. pic.twitter.com/jWfIPdtWTn
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 5, 2026
Critics have rumbled that the event is steadily moving away from fashion and culture and instead toward a ‘rich person circus’ that prioritises embellishment over style. There is concern that the humanity behind traditional, intentional design is steadily being diluted by Bezos’ influence, as net worth begins to dictate who shapes fashion.
