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Topics: Met Gala, Celebrity, US News, Entertainment
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Met Gala, Celebrity, US News, Entertainment
This year’s Met Gala is expected to see significantly more A-listers absent than usual, with many attributing this to the controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos’ involvement.
The star-studded celebration is set to kick off at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art tonight (4 May), and will see a wave of huge-name stars participating in the theme 'Costume Art'. Apparently, this concept seeks to explore the 'centrality of the dressed body' through depictions of the human form, and will encourage guests to think of their physiques as blank canvases.
According to insiders, however, a handful of Met Gala regulars and fashion powerhouses have opted to skip this year's celebration in light of the news that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos would be sponsoring it.
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It was announced back in November that Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez, who famously married in Venice last year in a lavish ceremony that almost shut down the entire Italian city, would be contributing eight figures to the festivities.
The donation was made in exchange for the billionaire being able to co-host and sponsor the soiree, and Sanchez securing an honorary co-chair position.
"I think Lauren is going to be a wonderful asset to the museum and to the event," the event's overseer, Anna Wintour, previously claimed. "I’m very grateful for her incredible generosity… we’re thrilled she’s part of the night."
While many other celebs have welcomed the duo's involvement, others have accused the super-rich couple of buying their seat at the table for what is largely considered the most exclusive night of fashion.
These squabbles are supposedly happening behind the scenes, however, forcing representatives for certain stars to address their absences, claiming they're related to different matters entirely.
Amongst them is Zendaya, who has raised eyebrows on the red carpet for seven years in a row - including last year, when she rocked an all-white Louis Vuitton suit - and previously served as a co-chair in 2024.
Attempting to explain her absence, the 29-year-old's agent claimed she's in need of some downtime following a bustling work schedule, which has seen the release of black-comedy The Drama, and a new series of Euphoria.
Lady Gaga is also expected to skip this year's ceremony, as her attendance has yet to be confirmed.
Meryl Streep will also be a no-show.
Her absence will be especially felt given the recent release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, in which she reprised her role as formidable fashion mag leader, Miranda Priestly, a role inspired by Met Gala overseer and ex-Vogue boss, Anna Wintour.
Wintour's biographer, Amy Odell, failed to reference Bezos' involvement when discussing Streep's absence in a statement to the press, however, claiming that the actress has 'never quite found it her scene'.
According to Page Six sources, her two daughters, Grace and Mamie Gummer, will attend on her behalf.
Given that Streep is a keen humanitarian and vocal political commentator, however, it wouldn't be a surprise if she took issue with Bezos' involvement.
Ever since his donation was announced, posters and banners have popped up across New York City reading, 'Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by the firm that powers ICE', and 'Boycott the Bezos Met Gala'.