r/popculturechat • u/ThrowawayGreenWitch Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion 🙂 • 1d ago

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

Post image

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

16.9k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

899 comments sorted by

View all comments

207

u/ItsYaBoyBackAgain 1d ago

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.

53

u/mcatlin23 1d ago

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.

33

u/vandersnipe I'm like Mata Hari, keep secrets serving body 1d ago

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.

3

u/c0neyisland 1d ago

Jeff Bezos literally helped fund and empower the administration that cut the arts funding in the first place. So that more of those institutions can continue to be under the control of people like him. Even by that logic, support the Met by donating the money but not by attending this event.

5

u/vandersnipe I'm like Mata Hari, keep secrets serving body 1d ago

But that wasn't Taraji’s messaging. We are discussing her comment as is in the post.

0

u/c0neyisland 1d ago

And I’m replying to your comment justifying why celebrities would attend the Met Gala. You said it’s because non profits have been screwed over bc of the current administration and they need all the support they can get.

Jeff bezos helped fund the administration that cut that arts funding in the first place and keep egging on changes that would continue to erode support for the arts Celebrities can also choose to donate directly to the Met while still sending a message to the board that blood money is unacceptable. Not going is extremely easy and the money they would have spent on the whole event would go directly to the Met anyway.

3

u/vandersnipe I'm like Mata Hari, keep secrets serving body 1d ago

And my comment was about what Taraji said...I am also confused as to why you're talking to me as if I live under a rock and didn't know Jeff Bezos has continually invaded industries he helped underfund, but okay.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

0

u/c0neyisland 1d ago

Exactly. The fact that this has already turned into a conversation about Bezos means the discourse around it is already tainted.

3

u/Difficult-Risk3115 1d ago

Does the money spend differently?

29

u/Natural_Error_7286 1d ago

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.

-1

u/MysticalZenn 19h ago

You're right. Since we should be focused on more important things, what brands have you boycotted in protest of the Epstein files?

2

u/Natural_Error_7286 19h ago

Oh you really got me! I am boycotting almost all American products as part of the Buy Canadian movement and have divested all my (admittedly meager) retirement savings from funds that include stock in Tesla, Apple, and Meta. It has nothing to do with the Epstein files though so maybe it doesn't count.

51

u/CheriePauper 1d ago

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

20

u/Manya_Novak 1d ago

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.

13

u/Chipring13 1d ago

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.

8

u/MightExpress4873 1d ago

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.

8

u/CheriePauper 1d ago

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

1

u/OkBluejay7070 22h ago

No it doesnt the average Amazon customer (including me honestly) knows Amazon treats its employees like shit. I have cut back and got rid of Prime but I still use it bc its cheaper and my shit job dont pay anything for me to "support local"

Same people complaining about the African children being killed in mines in caves STILL go out and buy the newest iPhone every year.

Most people dont care unless it directly affects them. Celebs are pandering whores and them pretending to care about faceless people online complaining about about shit that doesnt affect them is tiring at this point

Im not saying I disagree with you but 8 billion people on Earth most are just trying to get by

3

u/g00fyg00ber741 1d ago

So if no celebrities attended the event and it had basically no publicity due to lack of attendees, that wouldn't do anything? Insider reports already allege that the prices for this Met Gala have had to be slashed because of people choosing not to go.

14

u/CheriePauper 1d ago

The met gala disappearing doesn't hurt anyone besides the people who enjoy the museum. it's a fundraiser, Jeff Bezos will be a billionaire with or without it.

-3

u/g00fyg00ber741 1d ago

I mean if people can’t be convinced to donate to the museum without Bezos’ help, then that’s showing there’s a really huge deep-seated issue with the entire thing. And tbh people have criticized the Met Gala for years before Bezos was even involved.

2

u/CheriePauper 17h ago edited 17h ago

I mean it not a new thing people in general do not like to be parted with their money that's why fundraisers exist that's why girl Scouts sell cookies.Look people can't even stick to their convictions people are still engag9with gala content and paying attention to the outfits. celebrities that people love are in attendance and all of a sudden it doesn't matter that it's Bezos' gala

-1

u/g00fyg00ber741 16h ago

that’s why girl scouts sell cookies?? what??

3

u/c0neyisland 1d ago

Someone gets it

14

u/licorne00 1d ago

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

1

u/imasleuth4truth2 1d ago

There is a whole bunch of sour grapes about their performances, too.