New York, May 4 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute drew a constellation of celebrities Monday as the Met Gala opened its doors for the evening's highly publicized fundraiser. Performers and actors including Sam Smith, Doja Cat and Nicole Kidman were among those who made notable entrances on the red carpet.
Alongside the high-fashion arrivals, demonstrators gathered outside the museum to criticize the event's association with Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Protesters, some wearing colorful costumes, held up letters spelling out "tax the rich" and banners bearing slogans such as "resistance red carpet" and "eat the rich." The demonstrations specifically targeted Bezos' role as a sponsor of the gala.
Lauren Sanchez Bezos, who is married to Jeff Bezos, was among the earliest attendees to arrive at the Met on Monday. Media reports have cited the couple as principal sponsors of the gala, with a donation reported at $10 million, and both were named honorary chairs of the event. That sponsorship and the honorary roles prompted calls for a boycott focused on concerns about wealth inequality and workers' rights.
The Met Gala, an annual fundraiser for the Costume Institute, is widely recognized for both its extravagant fashion statements and its list of high-profile guests. Organizers set the event's dress code this year as "Fashion is Art," encouraging attendees to use the body as a canvas for artistic expression. Expected guests included global stars such as Rihanna, Beyonce, Venus Williams and Kim Kardashian.
Tickets for the gala carry a significant price tag, with individual seats reported at $100,000 each, though most celebrities attend as invited guests rather than ticket purchasers. Early to pose for photographers were internet personality Emma Chamberlain, who wore a skin-tight dress with elongated sleeves that trailed to the floor, and La La Anthony, whose gown was described as dripping with jewels.
Other standout looks on the evening included French social media personality Lena Mahfouf, who chose a sculpted bodice resembling two silver hands paired with a flowing skirt, and actress Gwendoline Christie, who arrived in a long red gown complemented by a feathered headpiece and a lifelike mask.
The juxtaposition of star-studded fashion moments and public protest framed the gala's arrival sequence, reflecting both the event's cultural prominence and the controversies tied to its financial backers.