New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend the Met Gala, as activists plan to protest Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s sponsorship of the event.
The Met Gala and Its History
The Met Gala, hosted by *Vogue* magazine, is one of the world’s most anticipated fashion events, drawing celebrities, business leaders, and politicians annually. For many years, New York City mayors have participated in the gala.
The event, held on the first Monday in May, was founded by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert and first took place in 1948. The Met Gala opens the annual fashion exhibition of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and last year raised a record $31 million for the institute.
Mayor Mamdani’s Decision
Zohran Mamdani confirmed in an interview with the Hell Gate newsletter that he decided to break with tradition and forgo attending the Met Gala. “I am focused on making the most expensive city in the United States affordable, and that is where I want to spend most of my time,” the Mayor stated.
Mamdani emphasized the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s importance to New York City and his personal affection for the institution.
Mamdani’s Political Platform
Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election last November, becoming the first Muslim to hold the office. He identifies as a social democrat and represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
His campaign promises included free bus transportation in New York City, partial rent freezes, the construction of 200,000 affordable housing units, and increased taxes for corporations and individuals earning over $1 million annually.
Bezos’s Sponsorship and Criticism
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is a major sponsor of this year’s Met Gala, and he and his wife have become “honorary co-chairs” through their contribution. Some commentators noted that Mamdani’s attendance at an event sponsored by Bezos would be inappropriate, given the mayor’s views.
Bezos is among the business leaders criticized by Mamdani.
Activist Opposition to Bezos
Prior to Mamdani’s announcement, many internet users and New York City residents criticized Bezos’s involvement with the Met Gala. Activists displayed posters near the Metropolitan Museum of Art calling for a “Boycott Bezos Met Gala” and reminding people of “worker exploitation,” referencing long-standing reports of poor working conditions at Amazon.
Activists also accuse Bezos of tax avoidance and supporting the controversial immigration policies of former President Donald Trump’s ICE agency.
Planned Protest During the Gala
The British group Everyone Hates Elon announced plans to organize a protest on May 4th, the date of the Met Gala, intended to “humiliate and ridicule” Bezos.
A representative of the group, using the pseudonym Jane, stated, “We have a message for *Vogue* and the Met Museum: you are being used to clean up a dirty image. You should remove [Bezos] from the leading position, unless you support his crimes.” Jane also noted growing public engagement in protests against Bezos and his wife, with volunteers creating stickers and hacking subway advertisements.
Controversy Surrounding Bezos’s Donation
“The Met Gala is not usually primarily sponsored by individual donors,” said Amy Odell, author of a biography of Anna Wintour, the Met Gala organizer and former editor-in-chief of American *Vogue*. “Usually, brands take on that task to cover the costs. The fact that two individuals are the main sponsors is unusual. And they are not popular, so why [Anna Wintour] reached out to them raised a lot of controversy.”
