Arabic version: مهرجان ميت غالا يواجه ردود فعل سلبية بسبب مشاركة جيف بيزوس المالية

The Met Gala, known as the pinnacle of fashion events, is under scrutiny this year due to the involvement of billionaire Jeff Bezos and his partner Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs. Their role as primary sponsors has sparked boycotts and criticism, leading to a perceived decline in the event’s prestige. According to The Guardian, the couple’s participation has raised eyebrows, especially with rumors circulating about Bezos’s potential acquisition of Condé Nast, the parent company of Vogue.

This year’s gala, set to launch the exhibition Costume Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, features a guest list that includes prominent figures like Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman. Tickets for the event are priced at approximately $100,000, but the focus has shifted to the controversy surrounding Bezos’s financial backing. Activist group Everyone Hates Elon has taken to the streets of New York, plastering posters that call for a boycott of the gala.

The event’s theme, “fashion is art,” aims to explore the intersection of fashion and various marginalized body types. Curator Andrew Bolton highlighted the significance of this theme, noting that the exhibition features around 200 garments and accessories alongside 200 artworks. However, fashion historian Cally Blackman expressed concerns that the gala’s focus has shifted from artistic expression to publicity, diminishing its original intent.

As the gala approaches, the tension surrounding Bezos’s involvement continues to grow. Critics argue that the billionaire’s financial contributions overshadow the artistic and philanthropic goals of the event. The Met Gala, once a symbol of high fashion and cultural dialogue, now finds itself at a crossroads, questioning its identity in an era dominated by celebrity and wealth.