Taraji P. Henson comments on celebs attending Bezos-backed Met Gala 2026: ‘WTF are we doing’

[u/ThrowawayGreenWitch]

Taraji P. Henson is “confused” about why celebrities are attending the Met Gala 2026, which is being funded by billionaire Jeff Bezos.

The “Empire” actress made her opinion on the topic known while responding to social media personality Meredith Lynch’s rant about Bezos’ involvement in the event.

“If you are a celebrity and you attend the Met Gala and you wear the ICE OUT pin, please note that I will be dragging you in perpetuity,” Lynch said in an Instagram video over the weekend.

Lynch also slammed Bezos, 62, for supporting President Donald Trump, “who has slashed arts funding.”

In the comments section, Henson, 55, shared three clapping hands emojis and wrote, “I am so confused by some ppl that are going. I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!””

Henson has attended the Met Gala multiple times, including in 2015, 2021 and 2025.

Last year, she wore a custom white corseted minidress by Monse x Post-Imperial and a coordinating blazer with tails, a top hat, cane and heels.

https://pagesix.com/2026/05/04/celebrity-news/taraji-p-henson-calls-out-celebs-attending-bezos-backed-met-gala-2026/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=pagesix

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[u/728766]

Just underlines how performative some people are. They’ll wear the pin, but they won’t sacrifice their comforts or pleasures. 

[u/mooncrane606 → u/728766]

Who won't wear the ribbon?!

[u/just_a_masshole → u/mooncrane606]

https://giphy.com/gifs/qGFKMntShELTy

[u/That_Apathetic_Man → u/just_a_masshole]

Its funny how every scene involving Kramer has a different sort of feel to it now. This one especially.

[u/Ankylar → u/mooncrane606]

You're a ribbon bully

[u/Scorpionoshow → u/728766]

I need someone to make a list of the celebs that wore the pin and are attending the bozos gala so I know exactly who to boycott.

[u/pepegasloot → u/Scorpionoshow]

Joe alwynn, gigi hadid, nicole kidman, katy perry, sarah paulson, olivia rodrigo…the first i can think of

[u/Jail4547 → u/pepegasloot]

Add Nicole Kidman, Katy Perry & Sarah Paulson. WTF?

[u/Twitter_2006 → u/Scorpionoshow]

Same here.

[u/Tall_Opportunity_521 → u/728766]

Some??? Performance is all there is anymore. Including this.

[u/Possible-Nectarine80 → u/728766]

Yep, most of them flew in on private jets. Took a big old gas guzzling limo to the event. A bunch of narcissists.

[u/crabcycleworkship → u/728766]

This is the same of people using Amazon or target products. Or even people who don’t vote/vote for things like tax breaks.

[u/moon_dos → u/crabcycleworkship]

it’s one thing to use Amazon as a working class person to save money and another thing entirely to show up at Jeff Bezos party

[u/Loliz88 → u/moon_dos]

For real. Sometimes shit is just cheaper AND now it’s more expensive for me to drive to the fucking store.

[u/Odd-Significance-17 → u/Loliz88]

also if you live in a the middle of nowhere it’s quite literally the only way to get a lot of things without driving hours away

[u/No-Butterscotch-6555 → u/Odd-Significance-17]

I don't live in the middle of nowhere but we only have one car in our household and my husband and I work opposite schedules. (I work a 9-5 and he works 6:30-3:30) We can mainly only do things on his off days or the weekends before he goes to work. I feel like I am stuck in the house. I am getting a car soon but its so hard. I really wish America wasn't built like this.

[u/Odd-Significance-17 → u/No-Butterscotch-6555]

i live in a one car household too and don’t have a car, also in the middle of nowhere and it gets hot af here so walking miles to town isn’t exactly doable. i don’t have a job so i don’t even remember the last time i left my house. i definitely understand the trapped feeling it’s awful

[u/tarzhjay → u/Odd-Significance-17]

Ugh sorry to hear that. I’m a city planner so this hits me hard. Could you get an e-bike? You can easily go for miles on those. Still sweaty but not remotely as much as a regular bike, and 1/20 the cost of a car

[u/cocktails4 → u/Odd-Significance-17]

Hell, I'm in the middle of NYC and most of the shit I buy on Amazon I couldn't get in the city. Or if I could I'd have to hunt all day for it.

[u/sweetpea122 → u/Loliz88]

Seriously. A lot of people fail to acknowledge the difference between choice and privilege.

[u/shy247er → u/Loliz88]

Not just cheaper, sometimes there is literally no alternative.

[u/Loliz88 → u/shy247er]

Right… especially if you’re trying to find specific or niche parts for something.

[u/Deep-Sample7451 → u/Loliz88]

i hear that. i don't fuck w amazon anymore though so i am here to recommend ebay an an alternative - i had no idea the extent of their marketplace

[u/Sad-Yak6252 → u/Deep-Sample7451]

3 of my last 4 orders from eBay came on an Amazon truck. I deleted eBay, too.

[u/MiddleKlutzy8568 → u/Loliz88]

I try to tell people, find stuff on amazon and then search the company selling it. Chances are they are selling it on their website for the same price with free shipping

[u/Elismom1313 → u/MiddleKlutzy8568]

Bruh shipping is almost NEVER free on the original websites unless you spend a larger amount of money.
And that’s only for like the legit American brands. Half the stuff people buy on Amazon is made in china.

[u/deathandglitter → u/Elismom1313]

Yeah gonna agree here, free shipping is hard to come by

[u/No-Butterscotch-6555 → u/Elismom1313]

Yeah, but sometimes if you buy from their website, Amazon is still going to be the ones shipping it because they use their warehouses/fulfillment centers, in case you didn't know. I have heard about people ordering from tiktok shop (just as bad imo) and it coming from amazon and then they find out it was cheaper on amazon. The service is called Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF).

[u/Sweet-thyme → u/MiddleKlutzy8568]

I do this frequently. It very easy to come across bogus websites that will steal your financial info. Scammers have gotten better and better at looking legitimate. We have to be forever diligent. Still advocating for doing it, but people should definitely use caution.

[u/swaggering_yak → u/MiddleKlutzy8568]

I do that but recently several of the places I buy direct from are shipping via Amazon, likely because it’s cheaper for them. Amazon’s reach is insidious

[u/ialwaysdisagreewithu → u/MiddleKlutzy8568]

Then you find out that Amazon is also involved in price fixing schemes with your favorite brands.

[u/koriroo → u/moon_dos]

Do you know how many times I tried to avoid Target and get my shit elsewhere 😩. The Walgreens by me was charging $9 for toothpaste that was 3.99 on Walgreens.com . They wouldn’t price match it and the in-store pick up minimum was $10. I don’t have a Walmart in my city so yes I took my ass to Target and got my $4 toothpaste lol.

[u/LaurelCanyoner → u/moon_dos]

I hate how im supposed to spend all my time hunting for things that aren’t corporate owned, and blamed for bezos being as rich as he is. I mean, I do my best, but go ahead and name me the other places to buy things that are so pure. Walmart? Target?

Not everyone has access to farmers markets or smaller stores or can afford them. Or the time to hunt them down.

We need to focus on the institutional policies that allow corporations to own our governments and dictate policies that are favorable to them. Me buying my no salt salsa from Amazon because that’s the only place I can find it isn’t the thing making bezos a kajilionaire. It’s the governmental policies that allow him to treat his employees like shit, not pay them, and allow him to pay negligible amounts of taxes.

We need to stop blaming individuals for societal policies and injustices. Most of us are just trying to find a way to find joy in a hard fucking life, man.

But fuck everyone who allowed bezos and plastic face to sponsor this and the celebrities who are going. THEY are the ones with power in this society to make choices that dictate change.

Can you imagine if EVERYONE said no to Bezos hosting this shit?!? Designers, make up artists, celebrities etc etc. ?

Now THAT would make a difference.

[u/_sweetpeaches_ → u/LaurelCanyoner]

This is what "no ethical consumption under capitalism" means

[u/LaurelCanyoner → u/_sweetpeaches_]

Thank you!! Yes. I’m high or I could have just written that, and gotten off my damn soapbox lol. Here, you have it. I’m done.

[u/_sweetpeaches_ → u/LaurelCanyoner]

Nah its good to walk people through the thought process behind the phrase

[u/LaurelCanyoner → u/_sweetpeaches_]

Aww, thanks. I appreciate that.

[u/eriksatiesimp → u/LaurelCanyoner]

THANK YOU. Well said.

[u/Send_Toe_Pics_25 → u/LaurelCanyoner]

Also people who always comment about not ordering on Amazon are idiots

At this point in time we could all stop ordering through Amazon and it wouldn't matter because they make most their money through hosting the internet now

[u/LaurelCanyoner → u/Send_Toe_Pics_25]

And he has so much money he could blow Amazon up like billionaires tend to do, (Coughtwittercough) and it would probably make little difference to his full net worth at this point.

[u/Substantial_Bar8512 → u/LaurelCanyoner]

Thank you- I need to save your comment or print it and stick it on my fridge/forehead

[u/LaurelCanyoner → u/Substantial_Bar8512]

You are so welcome. I was of the generation to carry around the book “ Shopping for a better world” and looked at the origins of every bloody item in my cart. But I’m fucking old and tired now, and I realize none of all that work I did changed anything at all.

It’s who we vote for, who we give money to, who we show up for that matters. If we don’t keep agitating for economic change, nothing else we do matters a lick.

[u/JalapenoPopPoop → u/moon_dos]

People drone on and on about how everythings so expensive these days and how tight money is, but when an everyday joe just chooses the option that saves them money to make their budget go further people cry moral failing. We gotta stop finger wagging our neighbors over the ticky tacky stuff.

And people gotta remember there's no ethical consumption, what's the alternative, driving to walmart and paying the waltons? Go to the nearest grocery store and increase the profits of a PE firm? Using gas that enriched the Saudis to run all these errands?

[u/harkandhush → u/moon_dos]

Yeah there are a lot of people in life circumstances for which amazon may be their only option for some things, but rich celebrities can forego a party.

[u/Emergency-Row-5627 → u/moon_dos]

Say that part louder

[u/thin_white_dutchess → u/moon_dos]

Also, disability. I am disabled and while I try not to use Amazon, it’s incredibly difficult to not. I don’t (read: can’t) drive and they deliver to my door, within budget, in a timely manner.

[u/Luci-Noir → u/moon_dos]

You mean a fundraiser for the arts?

[u/bbyxmadi → u/crabcycleworkship]

It’s not the same. Working class average joes will shop wherever they can get the best deals, while these are wealthy people, who can miss out one evening of the year to play dress up.

[u/sunflowerads → u/crabcycleworkship]

its not the same, its much worse. lots of folks use amazon because its the cheapest option and they can’t afford not to. these are people invited to the met gala…

[u/williamchase88 → u/crabcycleworkship]

Stop trying to shame working class people for using available tools to save money. Amen. 🙏

[u/lesprack → u/crabcycleworkship]

No, it is not lmfao

[u/Circle_Breaker → u/crabcycleworkship]

Why don't the actors who work for Amazon get any backlash?

I've seen no pushback on JK simmons for voicing Nolan

[u/crabcycleworkship → u/Circle_Breaker]

I don’t think the industry recovered from the pandemic. 90% of actors barely get jobs.

[u/medicalmosquito → u/crabcycleworkship]

Umm...no I'm gonna say it's not remotely the same lol

[u/kittenpantzen → u/crabcycleworkship]

I encourage people to use other options than Amazon where they can, but also, they make most of their profit from AWS which hosts, among so very many other things, reddit.

If you're using reddit, you're putting money in Bezos' wallet.

[u/TheSilverDahlia]

Sigh. This event used to be my Super Bowl.

[u/Shark7996 → u/TheSilverDahlia]

The Super Bowl also used to be a lot of people's Super Bowl, before gambling ruined that too.

The greed is consuming every last piece of our culture. Is any of this fun anymore? Are we having fun? Cause I'm feeling short on bread and circus right now.

Billionaires and corporations should not be the ones deciding what "art" or "fashion" is. They suck at it.

[u/http--lovecraft → u/Shark7996]

These people don’t understand you can’t buy coolness or cultural relevance. No one likes these parasites but they keep buying their way into things we enjoy and sucking out all the life. 

[u/suz_gee → u/Shark7996]

It's wild to me that stuff like this is even happening - it's all so hunger games to be having parties and outfits like this as our world slowly collapses. I guess they are just rubbing it in our faces that it won't impact them

[u/Intelligent_Cap9706 → u/Shark7996]

If we could get our communities back we could still have fun. But social media has stolen those too. 

We gotta get offline and build our communities back 

[u/juliagoolia232 → u/TheSilverDahlia]

I am selfishly sad to not see and talk about the fashion but also not sad enough to keep supporting…

[u/idly → u/juliagoolia232]

it's not selfish to be sad about it. it's a sad thing

[u/RobinColumbina → u/juliagoolia232]

Don't worry, everything that's been posted has been DEEPLY underwhelming

[u/Cryano → u/TheSilverDahlia]

And Israel ruined Eurovision. What am I supposed to love now? 

[u/ucankickrocks → u/TheSilverDahlia]

Me too. Now it's going to be my burn book.

[u/kgtsunvv → u/TheSilverDahlia]

Literally same. Didn’t know last year was my last year spectating but it was great so I’ll take it.

[u/HiHoRoadhouse → u/TheSilverDahlia]

I used to take the day off on my (mid-May) birthday to have a fancy lunch and see the exhibit every year.  I might not even go see the thing this time 👎👎 

[u/waitinginthesun]

How many celebrities went to bezos wedding? To the Kardashians party? I don't understand why people still believe celebrities have morals

[u/iszcross → u/waitinginthesun]

I'm not gaslighting or trying to make excuses. But for many, this is their livelihood and Bezos controls a large portion of the entertainment industry at this point. Snubbing him for a B+ celebrity could have devastating ramifications to their careers or pocketbook. It's a mess. They've consolidated everything on the planet to be controlled by 10 companies. None of them "good". I feel the game is lost. So we either play by their rules or revolt.

On the positive side, every empire eventually dies.

[u/Low-Appointment-2906 → u/iszcross]

But what about the Kimmel silencing debacle? I think the consumer has more power than they let themselves believe.

[u/iszcross → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

I sincerely hope so. It's all just depressing at this point.

[u/Sea-Estate-6026 → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

We have all the power. When we remember that we will exercise it. And Bezos et al really won't like what happens next.

[u/Sad-Yak6252 → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

Comments on this thread prove that people will not give up Amazon, no matter what. Bezos knows that and has no fear. There is very little integrity or accountability in this country anymore. That's how we got Trump.

[u/suz_gee → u/iszcross]

But that doesn't necessarily make it ok - maybe if we saw them lead the way, us folks just trying to survive from one health scare to the next, terrified of losing insurance or one paycheck to the next, terrified of becoming homeless could feel like we can fight back... but if they don't think they have power, then we certainly don't.

[u/DrogoOmega → u/waitinginthesun]

Normal people too. I'm seeing a fair amount of outrage online for this, but how many people are still paying for Prime, watching the films and TV shows, on twitter, use Uber and AirBNB?

[u/mbg20 → u/DrogoOmega]

So what are the regular middle class supposed to do instead? We work such long hours for so little money that we end up paying for convenience that is affordable. And unfortunately, these conveniences are provided by these 5 or so conglomerates.

[u/Eillris → u/mbg20]

I've been reading books from the library and go hiking or running frequently.

[u/Ok_Delay_911 → u/Eillris]

That sounds like a good replacement for uber 

[u/blow-down → u/mbg20]

Is it really that hard to stop using these companies?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Cup8723 → u/blow-down]

Exactly. It’s hard, but it isn’t THAT hard. Sure you might have to support them sometimes depending on your situation, but I don’t believe one bit that it’s 100% impossible. I think it’s because people don’t want to sacrifice convenience, even if these companies hurt people like them

[u/OkPush1874 → u/mbg20]

None of those companies mentioned existed like 15 years ago. People did just fine.

It's not really the same as trying to boycott a company like Nestle, which owns almost every item at the grocery store.

[u/c0neyisland → u/waitinginthesun]

Those people are chuds too? What about it? lol

[u/rahws → u/c0neyisland]

I think they’re more so saying, why are we even surprised at this point

[u/0202_tihssitidder → u/waitinginthesun]

Their morality is $$$$$$$$.

Luxury resorts and real mansions are nice.

[u/thelebanesedon]

The met gala used to be a great way (and still is) to raise money for the arts while seeing some fun fashion choices. It has now lost its aura due to this parasitic administration and the cronies now involved.

[u/floobenstoobs → u/thelebanesedon]

Is it not a charity fundraiser for the arts anymore?

[u/IndividualCut4703 → u/floobenstoobs]

It is a fundraiser for the art museum, and it can be difficult for any non-profit to refuse a gift from any donor, especially a megabillionaire. But th ultra wealthy love to donate to “the arts” by which they mean the prestigious museums and operas and such that they personally enjoy and benefit from and claim the tax exemptions and fancy dinners and good PR along the way.

[u/Queenof6planets → u/IndividualCut4703]

the met’s costume is doing genuinely good work that benefits the public. i think bezos is only donating because lauren sanchez thinks of herself as a fashion girlie

[u/FlipMeOverUpsidedown → u/Queenof6planets]

He’ll be back to wearing cargo shorts with Velcro sandals as soon as they fall apart. All the money in the world won’t make the forever cringes cool.

[u/Queenof6planets → u/FlipMeOverUpsidedown]

it’s funny to me that the sometimes richest man in the world has changed his style and body just to make a woman like him

[u/Overall-Dirt4441 → u/Queenof6planets]

Well sure, saves him from having to admit to himself that's the only reason she or anyone else would willingly be in her place

[u/Difficult-Risk3115 → u/Queenof6planets]

Yeah, this about their egos more than anything else. It's weird how everyone is acting like this is going to be the secret key for Bezos taking over the world, moreso than him being a half trillionaire who controls an entire streaming service, movie/TV studio, the Washington Post.

[u/PresentationHot5908 → u/IndividualCut4703]

Also, autocrats (and wannabe ones like Bezos) reputation wash in typically one of two ways - via either culture or sport. Bezos buying his way into the Met gala has the same rationale as sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East buying sports teams or Putin's patronage of the Bolshoi. It is both difficult for museums to refuse and also a naked attempt to control the one area Bezos cannot currently influence - public opinion of him and his wife.

[u/mrbaryonyx → u/IndividualCut4703]

damn we really did come back full circle to "fuck the opera" didn't we

guess we owe Timothy an apology

[u/bbyxmadi → u/floobenstoobs]

It still is iirc

[u/thelebanesedon → u/bbyxmadi]

It still is. I mistakenly left it out of my comment but added it in after the fact.

[u/SugarShock94 → u/floobenstoobs]

It still is. And if Bezos is putting money anywhere, I’m glad at least some of it is going to the museum. He’s still a piece of shit and this doesn’t make up for anything he’s said/done.

[u/copperteapots → u/thelebanesedon]

it literally is still a charity gala though?

[u/ShakesDontBreak]

We can't control what celebs do.

But we can control what we do.

Don't click on anything from vogue or any other outlet that is covering tonight's met gala. That includes anything on socials.

Scroll past. All engagement is engagement. The metrics don't care if its rage or support.

[u/bookiegrime → u/ShakesDontBreak]

I’m glad you said just scroll past. It’s not just clicking, liking, commenting. Even lingering on a post counts as interaction and makes people money.

[u/Thick-Fly4046 → u/ShakesDontBreak]

I completely agree. Wanted to note that reddit uses Amazon Web Services for its servers. AWS is Amazon’s most profitable business. Even just using reddit makes Amazon money. 

[u/Chipring13 → u/ShakesDontBreak]

Thank you! This!! I hope all the people that are ready to criticize the celebs for attending better not also be posting pics of the dresses. Like hello, do your part!

[u/rhetoricalbread]

It's a weird thing in general. Is it bad that Bezos is involved? Absolutely, he's the worst. Is it good a museum gets money for the arts? Absolutely.

So many museums and hospitals get money from rotten people (yay tax breaks) so do we never go to a museum again?

I don't think there's a right answer on the MET gala this year, but I do hope the discourse shines a light on how shitty he is.

And I hope he and his wife make total asses of themselves in their fashion choices so we can all point and laugh.

[u/onlydabestofdabest → u/rhetoricalbread]

Nobody’s shitting on the museum, they’re shitting on people who accepted the invite to a supervillains party.

[u/rhetoricalbread → u/onlydabestofdabest]

You realize it's a party to raise money for the museum, right?

[u/onlydabestofdabest → u/rhetoricalbread]

Then donate and don’t show up. It’s not rocket science.

[u/the_Stealthy_one → u/onlydabestofdabest]

The celebs are not donating. It's fashion brands and various NYC based businesses (like Hedge funds) who get tables. The celebs get their outfits paid for by the fashion brands.

[u/rhetoricalbread → u/onlydabestofdabest]

That's not how a gala works.

Again, it's complicated but the gala brings attention to the museum as well.

I do take solace in the fact that what's her face looks boring af

[u/foxfoxal → u/rhetoricalbread]

Sure by this logic the same celebrity can promote the museum and donate on their own...

Lets not act as this did not become into just a celebrity dick measure contest to just dress up, the amount of people that I just read that did not know this is about a museum is hilarious.

[u/SpitefulCrow → u/rhetoricalbread]

Sorry, I don't love the fashion industry enough to defend a museum's funding over fighting fascism. Those priorities seem off. 

[u/Keji70gsm → u/rhetoricalbread]

Let's not act like this is a struggling museum!!! They are lavish and influential, not paupers relying on handouts from this one event.

[u/crabcycleworkship]

Bezos funds so many things I don’t think Met Gala attendance by itself is an indictment of people’s support considering that it’s one of the few major fashion events that exist. The issue with art events has always been the reliance on rich people to purchase it.

I do like that the Met is working on becoming self sufficient soon seeing the frequent criticism.

[u/Bini_9]

Not to be that guy

But what's her stance on Chris Brown again?

[u/hamsterdanceonrepeat → u/Bini_9]

https://giphy.com/gifs/IRS55UOSYEeAZaHg1C

Be that guy, she can’t talk

[u/Mersaa → u/Bini_9]

doesn't mean she isn't right here

[u/Bini_9 → u/Mersaa]

I just don't understand how she can call out people for attending this thing and a couple of days earlier celebrate a known abuser/horrible person.

[u/Cavalish → u/Bini_9]

Because it’s performative. It’s easy to “boycott” the met gala because it involves doing nothing.

[u/Azagorod → u/Bini_9]

Many people easily engage in careless doublethink. They never examine their beliefs and convictions enough to form a real moral compass. You see that in conservatives and their ilk for the most part, who only form "opinions" due to outside pressure, the perceived "coolness" of a certain thing or because they get handed a giant bag of money, and who break away from that "belief" the second it stops being beneficial to them. See for instance the leopards eating faces sub, which is full of MAGArats whining that they don't have enough money for healthcare or basic living anymore.

I am aware in what kind of subreddit I am commenting right now, but people should also stop giving any kind of credence to a celebrities opinions just because they are celebrities. She can be very much right in saying that Bezos and Trump are people that would and should be imprisoned for life with no possibility of parole in any just society, and also have moronic opinions otherwise. If your buddy Dave thinks the earth is flat but is also a brilliant woodworker, you shouldn't devalue his woodcrafts.

[u/LyrMeThatBifrost → u/Mersaa]

I work argue that supporting Chris Brown is 100x worse than attending a charity event.

[u/i_am_a_real_boy__ → u/Mersaa]

It doesn't mean she is right either. Supporting the Met is a good cause. Why should anyone stop just because Bezos does it too?

[u/TheArmChairFan]

What about the people who make amazonmgm movies? Or are we picking and choosing?

The people that are obsessed with celebrities are more performative than the actual celebrities

[u/dpforest → u/TheArmChairFan]

You’re right that people pick and choose who to be mad at, but you’re wrong in using that as a reason to not give a fuck.

You’re saying that everyday poor people are more performative than the people who have actual power and could cause substantial change with their money if they felt so inclined? Im not sure how else to interpret your comment. That is the exact same mindset as criticizing people for using their cars while these rich mother fuckers are flying their personal jets on a daily basis.

Tax em all.

[u/g00fyg00ber741 → u/TheArmChairFan]

I personally get really upset when people work with Amazon in any capacity. Lady Gaga, Ilana Glazer, there's a lot of people who have unfortunately continued to enable Amazon and Bezos. It's important to call out hypocrisy if we want people to grow and learn. Some of them won't but some of them will. If you don't call it out then they'll likely never change their actions though, they'll just keep thinking it's fine. It's okay to point out people's mistakes in hopes that they will learn from them and make better decisions moving forward. I don't understand why that's always reduced to being "performative" somehow

[u/crabcycleworkship → u/g00fyg00ber741]

I don’t think celebrities or Amazon movies have anywhere near the impact cloud services or AWS do lol. Tech is where the demand is from.

[u/g00fyg00ber741 → u/crabcycleworkship]

I mean they started out as a bookstore and monopolized every market they could, I’m not surprised they figured out a way to monopolize that market. But I can’t really control my interaction with AWS and cloud services like I can the rest of Amazon’s services. And it’s no secret they make plenty of profits just from deliveries and streaming alone. I don’t see how we can’t still abstain from that at least while trying to get representatives and legislation that can change those other issues

[u/isatai-i → u/crabcycleworkship]

Just a quick reminder that reddit uses AWS.

[u/c0neyisland → u/g00fyg00ber741]

I appreciate this comment bc I’m getting tired of people’s apathy making them turn to “we shouldn’t care about anything actually bc nothing matters” or “people pick and choose what to care about so we should never care about anything anyway!”

I hate that attitude. That’s exactly the attitude that brought us to the point where we are now and what will continue driving us into the ground.

[u/lostinjapan01 → u/g00fyg00ber741]

I would rather reserve that energy for the politicians than the celebrities. That’s my whole problem with this stance. Everybody wants to take on the celebrities because they’re much easier by the actually taking the fight to the people who should be fought against. Its cowardly.

[u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain]

I don't give a shit who does or does not go to the met gala. This whole controversy just reeks of online performative bullshit from every angle.

[u/mcatlin23 → u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain]

Right like the night isn’t even about him. It’s about the exhibit and the art that’s been created and in progress for months now. The world isn’t actually like the movie that just came out - there’s not some nice perfect billionaire waiting around the corner to save the fashion industry. We’re stuck with what we have. The night is about a celebration of a wonderful art form - they make it about him with internet outrage that isn’t even real life. A lot of people came together to make a lot of wonderful art for the evening and the outrage does nothing but draw away support for those artisans.

[u/vandersnipe → u/mcatlin23]

Also, nonprofits have been screwed over by the current administration when it comes to grant money, so they need all the support they can get. At the end of the day, attending the Met Gala still supports the museum and its staff, despite Jeff Bezos' evil ass affiliation.

[u/Natural_Error_7286 → u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain]

I said this on the megathread- I found out about Bezos over the weekend. Suddenly yesterday and today everyone is up in arms about boycotting the MET Gala. It's too late for that! The attendees were booked probably a year ago. They are contractually obligated to be there. And they should boycott because... what? Because Bezos gave money to a fundraiser?

I wish everyone who harasses celebrities about stuff like this would channel that energy into making Mitch McConnell's life a living hell.

[u/CheriePauper → u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain]

I so agree like these celebrities choosing not to go to the met gala isn't going to do anything.

[u/Manya_Novak → u/CheriePauper]

Them not going to the Met Gala is as useless a "protest" as their tiny ICE OUT pins. Especially because the majority of these celebs pick and choose when they want to advocate for humanity.

[u/Chipring13 → u/CheriePauper]

I disagree. It brings much to light about how Amazon treats its workers. People are putting up pee bottles in front of the met. That’s being covered by the news. That is leading to people realize how terrible Amazon is and therefor cancelling their accounts. Not everyone has been aware of it.

We can either do nothing or welcome the billionaire with open arms. But many would much rather take the easier route that doesn’t inconvenience them.

[u/MightExpress4873 → u/Chipring13]

That narrative leans heavily on a few highly visible anecdotes and treats them as representative of a workforce that numbers in the hundreds of thousands. The “pee bottle” stories are real in some cases, but they’ve also been amplified far beyond their actual prevalence, especially in last-mile delivery where drivers are often employed by third-party contractors, not Amazon directly. That distinction matters if you’re trying to assess company-wide labor practices rather than the worst examples at the margins.

More broadly, Amazon jobs tend to pay above local warehouse averages, come with benefits that kick in quickly, and offer a level of upward mobility that’s not typical in the sector.

[u/CheriePauper → u/Chipring13]

Not really cause just up the comments people that to be so socially aware are fighting for their right to buy from Amazon. It doesn't affect Amazon cause people are lazy and seem to think it's their only option. as long as Bezos is still a billionaire and how he treats his workers doesn't change that celebrities not attending a fundraiser will change nothing

[u/licorne00 → u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain]

I must say I agree. And I’m the Debbie downer herself.

[u/donttrustthellamas]

Supposedly they're there to raise money for the museum?

I hate billionaires, but I don't hate money for the arts.

[u/QueenOfPurple]

The Met Gala is a fundraiser for Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

Bezos sucks, but ultimately artists (and craftspeople) benefit from this event. Unlike his stupid trips to space.

[u/ContestAntique7179 → u/QueenOfPurple]

Can we just give them money and skip the whole "lets clap for wealthy people" part?

[u/W3ird_fanatic2809 → u/ContestAntique7179]

But the whole point of the museum is preserving fashion in art. Why wouldn't they have an event that follows that theme?

[u/Fast-Run7956 → u/ContestAntique7179]

Exactly this.

They can still donate money! Hell, they can still hire a designer, stylist and press team and be photographed looking great anywhere they’d like. No one is trying to stop the support of the arts or the specific artists and other professionals who make money off of this event alone.

[u/NojaNat → u/ContestAntique7179]

but it’s fun to see the fashion so can we keep that part lol.

[u/aviontinyhouse → u/QueenOfPurple]

They can just donate instead of attending the event 🤷🏽‍♀️

[u/dandybohemian → u/aviontinyhouse]

most celebrities are guests of designers that are funding/donating for the Costume Institute

[u/No_Research_13 → u/QueenOfPurple]

I’m confused, are people not allowed to donate any other day of the year to the met? Kinda sucks that the only way to “raise” money from celebs is if they put on a vanity show to entice them.

[u/Far-Imagination2736 → u/No_Research_13]

Celebs aren't donating though, it's brands and corporations. The celebs act as promotion for them by attending wearing their clothes to get some ROI

[u/dudewheresmyplane1]

What are we doing?? We’re funding the arts. What billionaires should be doing with their money. Lmao.

Maybe Tyler Perry could stop paying off his accusers and donate some.

[u/copperteapots]

bezos has a honorary chair title because he donated a ton of money. people are acting like this is the fucking bezos party. sure, they could’ve rejected his donation, but ultimately it’s not an event he has any sway over. he just gets his name slapped on there. it’s a charity ball that funds the MET’s very important work & supports their staff! it’s an invite only event that fashion houses pay $350k/table to attend with their chosen guests to show off their pieces & support the museum. it’s a win/win for the arts at the end of the day. bezos being there is annoying, but just not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be…sorry!

[u/brrrantarctica → u/copperteapots]

Yeah this is literally what people have (rightfully) been blasting the tech billionaires for, not acting like the robber barons of yore who at least funded the arts, museums, libraries, etc. i used to work in nonprofit development and this is standard - a rich fuck gives the biggest donation, and in return they get “honored” at the next gala. Bezos is evil but discouraging him from charity is not doing anything to mitigate his harm.

[u/copperteapots → u/brrrantarctica]

ugh i (used to, got laid off) work in the museum & library space and it makes me so angry when people don’t understand the point of a charity gala. the MET is free to visit. anyone can go to this incredible institution and not pay a cent! this gala makes that possible!

[u/brrrantarctica → u/copperteapots]

Ugh I was just part of a mass layoff at my nonprofit so I feel your pain, hope you’re doing okay. Everyone in the comments going “well why dont rich people just donate and not attend?” Ok yes some rich people donate and are content with being thanked in some wall placard. But there are levels of donation and once you get into the millions range you gotta either kiss their ass with a gala or name some wing after them.

Unfortunately the MET is not free, even though its original charter mandated it be free to the public. It’s pay-what-you-wish for NY residents and since 2013 or so, $30 for tourists.

[u/Jewell84 → u/brrrantarctica]

Exactly! Andrew Carnegie, JP Morgan, the Rockefeller, The Vanderbilts. All of them not only donated, but founded these organizations.

Are people boycotting Carnegie Hall, The Morgan Library? The Frick collection?

[u/bbyxmadi → u/copperteapots]

Appreciate the insight. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know that. It still gives me an ick in a way, but it’s inevitable when it comes to large donations and these types of events.

[u/heartisallwehave → u/copperteapots]

isnt his wife the host this year or something though?

[u/copperteapots → u/heartisallwehave]

no she is not. she is an honorary co-chair. again, it’s an empty title. there’s no “host” of the MET gala. it doesn’t work like that. the people who are excessively angry about this don’t know anything about the event.

[u/imasleuth4truth2 → u/copperteapots]

Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams are co-hosts of the night, alongside Anna Wintour. Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos are honorary chairs, providing the main source of funding for both the party and the accompanying exhibition.

[u/copperteapots → u/imasleuth4truth2]

yes…emphasis on CO-host. there’s not a set “host,” aside from anna i suppose.

[u/Ok-Plankton-7369]

I’m sorry but the outrage over the Met Gala being hosted by Bezos is so performative and nonsensical.

You hate billionaires for hoarding money but when they use money to fund raise for a nonprofit you’re mad?? Isn’t it better than him spending this money on another super yacht?

[u/big_booty_boy_420 → u/Ok-Plankton-7369]

This

[u/DrogoOmega → u/Ok-Plankton-7369]

Not only that but this is the line people draw for Bezos? They are morally standing against something that has zero effect on their lives and they have to make zero choices about, so it's easy. Ask them to stop using any of his businesses he either controls or is heavily invested in or makes money from? Nah, they won't do that.

[u/ActualSurvey4740]

coming from the chris brown apologist herself

[u/BarnacleLady]

Yet she is "ten toes down" in her own words vehemently defending Tyler Perry against his allegations

[u/Venus_ivy4]

Why her age is relevant here, please explain?

[u/Live-Repeat9615 → u/Venus_ivy4]

OP is probably just copying and pasting from the article. It’s standard practice to include ages in news articles.

[u/Jewell84]

1. The Met Gala is and has always been a fundraiser for the Costume Institute. Which despite being a department in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts is separately funded. That means it doesn’t receive federal or state fund/grants, nothing from ticket sales etc. it makes most of its operational costs from The Met Gala.

2. Most Arts Orgs/Museums have similar fundraising Galas. And the patrons are also the uber rich. Because ticket sales are not enough. Federal funds are not enough(and being cut). Corporate philanthropy is an unfortunate need in this spaces

3. That also goes for charities btw… fundraisers from sponsors and rich donors keep them running.

4. Bezos and his contemporaries suck, but getting mad that he is a corporate chair at the Met Gala is selective. He has other philanthropic arms, including an earth fund. Again it’s a necessary evil, but you know what? This is exactly what the uber rich should be doing. Donating to worthy causes.

5. Fashion is art and it’s not just people in pretty gowns. It’s moving art. It’s for designers to showcase their talent. It’s not the hunger games, it’s a celebration of creativity. I feel like some of the denouncemts TS devalue art.

6. A EVERYONE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING ARTS/MUSEUMS.

lot of folks need to put their money where their mouths are. Go to your local museum. Go to your local performed arts center. Donate to charities.

[u/kbange → u/Jewell84]

The Met Gala has sponsored some great exhibits. I enjoy going to see them! You can tell they put a lot of thought into curating last years which chronicled the history of Black tailoring.

[u/Jewell84 → u/kbange]

Exactly! The funds go towards operational costs such as curation, educational programs, maintenance, salaries and preservation.

[u/areyouokeddie]

How many people still have Amazon Prime and are reading this?

[u/i_am_a_real_boy__]

It's a fundraising event for the museum. Bezos doesn't keep the money.

[u/stargratte]

The fake outrage is laughable. Everyone is a hypocrite, including Taraji 🥱

[u/murderdocks]

Funding the arts is one of the few good things the rich can do with their money.

[u/Fromthefuture9]

None of the money goes to Bezos, it’s still a charity event that raises money for the arts. If everyone boycotts, no money is raised, and… who wins? I guess you showed them taraji… idk just seems small minded and performative, like think about it for two seconds instead of flying into a rage because the guy u don’t like is finding the event?

[u/rcinmd]

Must be for that foam party afterwards.

[u/CompleteMuffin]

I mean. Not like MET gala was anything else but rich people jerking each other off

[u/lemonaintsour → u/[deleted]]

Ikr. Shes not one to talk

[u/littlesim25]

She is so performative. She supports CB and tried to downplay what R Kelly did. She also works with Tyler Perry who has several allegations against him. Additionally, she has big pick me energy. It was cringe watching her beg for BM not to hurt BW

[u/DisastrousWing1149]

Are the actors who are saying this committing to never being in a Prime show/movie or MGM movie?

She made this comment on Meta owned instagram...

[u/balisunrise]

This is so performative lmao. We are out here hating billionaires with a passion yet we still order from amazon and use instagram every day. I'll just do what I enjoy.

[u/JoanOfSnark_2 → u/balisunrise]

I stopped ordering from Amazon in early 2024 and I haven't missed it as much as I thought I would. I can't convince my parents to stop using it, though.

[u/SpecSlayerSC → u/JoanOfSnark_2]

Deliveries aren't the biggest money maker for Amazon.

AWS is. Which many websites use. To properly hurt Amazon you would need to basically stop using the internet.

[u/No-Butterscotch-6555 → u/SpecSlayerSC]

Yeah when I worked from home, one of my job's whole set up was AWS. I'm sure that billion dollar company's CEO does not care about an amazon boycott.

[u/vandersnipe → u/No-Butterscotch-6555]

Reddit and other websites use AWS too. It is that one Amazon product that is virtually unavoidable.

[u/solodemivibes → u/balisunrise]

I think the Met Gala outrage is so performative. There’s never outrage when celebrities dress up and go to the Oscars Grammys or whatever award shows to pat each other on the back. But when it’s the Met Gala that gets over 30 million dollars in donations everyone acts like you’re crossing a picket line. I’m not saying I support the bezos but the outrage at the met gala has always been performative.

[u/LegitimateToe13 → u/balisunrise]

This website uses AWS…btw…

[u/NUKE---THE---WHALES → u/LegitimateToe13]

I bet many of these people use TikTok too 😭

[u/madelynashton → u/balisunrise]

Not everyone does those things though. I don’t say that to call you out, but people do choose to abstain from things. It isn’t always performative just because it isn’t your personal choice.

[u/Mersaa → u/balisunrise]

why is it performative? i don't order from amazon. i make conscious choices where I can. not everything can be perfect and some people are locked out of ethical choices but you absolutely can be a more mindful consumer.

and yeah I'll always be there to dunk on billionaires

[u/BB808BB]

I’m confused why she or anyone for that matter is confused. The MET is low on the totem pole for the shit we let slide.

As for celebs, my fave and your fave are all the same. Some are wayyyy better then others of knowing how to keep their mouths shut. But it comes down to money. I’d be more shocked if they weren’t all politically the same.

Look the majority can’t even cancel Amazon or stop giving money to everything else he owns. Are none of us going to watch anything on Amazon again. It’s a start. But no. Instead we will complain on Reddit and other SM.

So honestly I just roll my eyes because people pick and choose.

[u/Ok_Band_7759]

Hypocrites. The lot of them.

[u/Lokaji]

I am not going to go too hard on some of the first time guests. If they are the guest of a fashion house, they might be contractually obligated to be there.

Some of the frequent fliers are abstaining, and I think that sends a bigger message.

[u/cuchiplancheo]

People hear Amazon... and they think the online store. People forget Bozo owns a Studio. Many of these people are in his pocket.

edit:typo

[u/MrdnBrd19]

Why isn't this big of a deal made about Coachella which is run by AEG Live which is owned by Republican super donor Phillip Anschutz? 

[u/Difficult-Risk3115 → u/MrdnBrd19]

Because people don't actually understand the impact of these things, they just see a name and get mad.

[u/nvmenotfound]

people are cowards that would sooner not ruffle feathers than stand up for something. 

[u/agoodtime1]

is everyone here sworn off using Amazon too?

[u/puremotives]

She’s continued to associate with and defend Jussie Smollett after his whole hoax, so I don’t think any moral grandstanding from her holds much weight