A protester was arrested outside the Met Gala after allegedly jumping a barricade, with unconfirmed reports identifying him as Amazon labour union founder Chris Smalls. Activists targeted the event due to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez's sponsorship, citing concerns over worker exploitation, tax avoidance, and alleged complicity in Israeli actions.
Arrest Details
The NYPD confirmed a 37-year-old male was taken into custody with charges pending, but would not confirm the individual's identity as Smalls. Video footage showed police wrestling a man to the ground, and a Reuters photographer captured a man resembling Smalls with a protest sign similar to one he posted online.
Broader Protests
Protests leading up to the event included projecting messages onto New York City buildings, leaving bottles of urine inside the Met, and displaying signs criticizing billionaires and Amazon's practices. The incident underscores growing public pushback against the event's association with corporate figures.
