Mark Ruffalo And Taraji P Henson Slam Guests Attending Jeff Bezos-Sponsored Met Gala

While many of the entertainment world’s biggest names spent their Monday evenings at the star-studded Met Gala, other prominent celebrities have spoken out against the event due to the involvement of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

This year’s Met Ball was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams, alongside regular organiser Anna Wintour, while Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez were named as its “honorary chairs”, as well as sponsoring the event, which had the themed dress code “Fashion Is Art”.

In the run-up to the event, the presence of the billionaire CEO became a contentious issue due to ongoing claims about workers’ rights at Amazon.

Bezos’ involvement has also been contentious due to his relationship with US president Donald Trump, with Amazon having reportedly donated $1 million to his inaugural fund.

One organised protest saw bottles of fake urine being stashed around New York’s Met Museum, in a show of solidarity with Amazon employees days before the Met Ball.

Meanwhile, a video message from a 72-year-old Amazon warehouse worker was also projected onto Bezos’ penthouse in the lead-up to the event.

“When we struggle from paycheck to paycheck, from week to week, it really angers me,” she said in her message. “If it weren’t for every associate in every Amazon facility, he wouldn’t have all those zeros behind his name. Shame on you, Jeff Bezos.

“The people that need to be celebrated at the Met Gala are the workers – people like me. We deserve that celebration. We deserve so much more than we’re getting.”

Marvel star Mark Ruffalo – who has not attended the Met Ball since 2012 – also shared this video post on his own Instagram page.

It was also liked by Olivia Rodrigo, another notable absence from this year’s event, who has attended the Met Gala three times previously, and was in New York days earlier to host Saturday Night Live.

Taraji P Henson also commented on a video slamming the event by comedian Meredith Lynch, in which she stated: “If you are a celebrity and you attend the Met Gala and you wear the ‘ICE out’ pin, please note that I will be dragging you in perpetuity.”

“I am so confused by some [people] that are going,” Taraji responded. “I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!”

Taraji has attended the Met Ball four times in the past, most recently in 2025.

Meanwhile, Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter spent the evening at a Labour Is Art protest against Bezos’ involvement in the 2026 Met Gala, which featured catwalk appearances from Amazon and Starbucks employees.

Accusing Bezos of trying to make the Met Ball “all about him”, Lisa lamented: “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?”

In the end, Jeff Bezos did not appear on this year’s Met Gala red carpet.

However, his wife Lauren Sánchez did walk the red carpet, appearing in a dress inspired by John Singer Sargeant’s painting, the Portrait Of Madame X, in a nod to the event’s “Fashion Is Art” theme.