Home / Arts and Entertainment / Met Gala Protests: Art Hits Subways Over Bezos Backing
Met Gala Protests: Art Hits Subways Over Bezos Backing
17 Apr
Summary
- Protests against Jeff Bezos' Met Gala sponsorship emerged as subway art.
- Art targets Amazon's labor and immigration enforcement practices.
- Protest collective 'Everyone Hates Elon' created the guerrilla art.
Outrage over Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's lead sponsorship of the Met Gala has manifested as protest art in New York's subway system. Organizers' initial omission of the couple from guest list announcements fueled public backlash. This discontent has now transformed into a visible street art movement targeting the Amazon founder's involvement.
The guerrilla art campaign, spearheaded by the U.K.-based collective Everyone Hates Elon, uses public spaces to critique Amazon's warehouse labor conditions and its cloud-computing arm's reported connections to immigration enforcement. These spoof ads, widely shared online, aim to counter the glamour of the Met Gala with serious ethical concerns.
Anna Wintour's attempts to address the backlash on CNN, emphasizing Sánchez's generosity and love for fashion, appeared to further inflame public sentiment. The controversy highlights a growing disillusionment with perceived influence gained through wealth at public institutions, particularly given past associations with political figures.
The Met Gala is scheduled for May 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with Bezos and Sánchez named honorary chairs. The protest art signifies a direct challenge to the event's image and its major financial backers.
