Backlash over this year's controversial Met Gala has ramped up across New York City, with protests including dramatic projected messaging and bottled 'urine' stunts. The biggest night of fashion is hours away from returning to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and fury has been growing over the involvement of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, 62, and his wife Lauren Sanchez, 56.
Creative Protest Tactics
Over the last 24 hours, activists have employed creative maneuvers in a last-ditch attempt at a boycott. Baskets containing plastic water bottles were installed outside the museum that urged passersby to urinate in them. Above the stash, a sign read: 'The Met Gala VIP toilet. Installed in honor of Met Gala chair Jeff Bezos. Go ahead, it's good enough for his staff.' Hundreds of bottles of fake urine are also said to have been hidden throughout the Met. The stunt was employed in a bid to draw attention to Amazon's treatment of its workers.
Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez have sparked fury over their involvement in this year's Met Gala. Over 300 bottles of fake 'urine' are said to have been hidden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Everyone Hates Elon, who are behind the stunt, claim employees at Bezos's corporation have been forced to urinate in bottles because they are not allowed time to take toilet breaks.
Projections and Messages
On Sunday, protest messages were projected onto Bezos's apartment block, the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. 'Boycott the Bezos Met Gala,' read one of the projections, while another said, 'no red carpet for Trump's billionaires.' Video messages from Amazon workers were also emblazoned onto Bezos's penthouse on Fifth Avenue, where he reportedly hosted a pre-Met Gala party. Again, the stunt was organized by anti-billionaire group Everyone Hates Elon, funded by 1,000 donors worldwide and supported by current and former Amazon workers.
A spokesperson for the group said: 'Amazon founder and oligarch Jeff Bezos just finished his Met Gala pre party at his penthouse and is getting ready for the big night. We couldn't let him get away with using celebrity and fashion to hide his crimes. We're exposing them instead.'
Background of Controversy
Bezos and Sanchez were announced as honorary co-chairs and lead sponsors of this year's Met Gala in February. The stunts have been pulled off by anti-billionaire group Everyone Hates Elon, funded by 1,000 donors worldwide. Empty water bottles appeared outside the Met along with a poster that said 'Met Gala VIP toilet.' Activists projected protest messages onto Bezos's apartment block on the eve of the Met Gala. Projections were also cast across the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.
Some fashion enthusiasts consider the quid pro quo a stain on the affair, which originally highlighted philanthropy. It has been claimed they shelled out $10 million to get in on the event. Backlash over this year's Met Gala started to build weeks ago, when protest posters were pasted on the boarded-up entrance of the now-closed Daona Deli. The giant posters bore two very bold messages. The first showed what appeared to be a plastic water bottle filled with urine on a red carpet in front of flashing camera lights. 'The Bezos Met Gala,' the sign read. 'Brought to you by worker exploitation.'
A large, bright red poster next to it displayed an even more scathing message in bold white letters, reading, 'Boycott the Bezos Met Gala.' Underneath, in smaller font, the poster shared a message that said: 'There's no dressing it up. Last month, boycott the Met Gala posters were put up in the Midtown area of New York City. Anna Wintour is co-chairing this year's Met Gala along with Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. 'Met Gala chair Jeff Bezos avoids tax, enables ICE, and backs Trump. Don't let him get away with it.'
This year's Met Gala theme is Costume Art and the dress code is Fashion is Art. Anna Wintour is co-chairing this year's event along with Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Bezos and Sanchez's names appear on the invitations and it's been reported they will get to sit with close pal Kris Jenner, whom they invited to their summer wedding in Venice, Italy, last year.
