Lisa Ann Walter blasts Jeff Bezos at Met Gala protest, brands him ‘Temu Lex Luthor’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actress and comedian Lisa Ann Walter publicly criticized Jeff Bezos during a protest that unfolded as the 2026 Met Gala got underway on Monday, May 4.

Known for her outspoken style, the actress took aim at the billionaire’s involvement in the high-profile event, as Bezos and his spouse, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, assumed their roles as sponsors and honorary chairs of the Met Gala.

Lisa Ann Walter targets Jeff Bezos at Met Gala protest

Walter did not hold back while addressing what was described as the “Labor Is Art” protest, delivering sharp remarks aimed at the Amazon founder. During her comments, she criticized him for backing the event, describing it as an attempt to make fashion’s biggest night “all about him.”

She further said, "How did an event that's supposed to celebrate creativity, artistry and fabulousness in all genders end up revolving around this Temu Lex Luthor, who profits off of pushing working people to their very brink?"

Walter also accused the Met Gala of becoming “a vessel for one man’s ego,” adding, “Now, I’ve been to some awkward parties, but that is next level. I mean, it’s really just sad. The man thinks he can buy cool.”

Bezos contributed $10 million to sponsor the event, an involvement that reportedly earned him significant approval from former Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. Ahead of the annual fashion spectacle, he also hosted a pre-Met Gala party at his New York City residence on Saturday, May 2.

The couple, who recently invested millions in a film about first lady Melania Trump’s life, were named lead sponsors alongside secondary donors, global media company Condé Nast and French luxury fashion house Saint Laurent.

Their position as primary contributors granted them influence over the guest list and the event’s overall presentation. “The Bezoses are where the American dream is at right now for status, wealth, and style.

They display conspicuous consumption [and] they have the ‘AWOK’, the Anna Wintour OK," William Norwich, a former Vogue editor, said.

Backlash grows against Jeff Bezos at Met Gala 2026

Since the November 2025 announcement of Bezos as a primary sponsor, followed by confirmation as honorary co-chairs in March 2026, criticism intensified across New York City.

Protesters launched a guerrilla-style poster campaign calling for a boycott, questioning their perceived influence over the Met Gala and linking Amazon to broader political and labor concerns.

Ahead of the gala, hundreds of workers, organizers, and advocates gathered in the Meatpacking District in downtown New York for the “Ball Without Billionaires,” a worker-led fashion show designed in contrast to the one at the museum.

Organized by a coalition of labor groups, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Strategic Organizing Center, and the Amazon Labor Union, the event featured current and former workers from Amazon, Whole Foods, The Washington Post, Starbucks, and Uber as models.

They were dressed by emerging, immigrant, and BIPOC designers such as Cindy Castro, Abacaxi, Atashi, and Ricardo DSean.

Walter and fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson co-hosted the event, where the atmosphere remained celebratory, with workers arriving in striking outfits and complimenting one another.

Before the runway show began, labor union activist April Verrett, who has served as president of the SEIU since 2024, addressed the crowd.

“Every year, the Met Gala tells a story about who matters, who gets seen, who gets celebrated, This year, we decided to center us. To make ourselves the heroes of our story, to celebrate ourselves and to live our joy out loud,” she said.