The Bezos’ financial support for the Met Gala shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Wintour has been friendly with the Amazon founder for years, hosting him and Lauren at the Met Gala in 2024. In fact, his company even co-sponsored the gala in 2012.

However, some commentators argue that the Bezos connection signals broader issues already evident around the Met Gala, notably its tendency to celebrate the mega rich and famous without adequately acknowledging class and financial inequality (as of 2024, one gala ticket cost more than $113,000). This was particularly apparent in 2022 when the “Gilded Glamour and White Tie” gala was accused of insensitivity in light of worsening US inflation.

It goes beyond the gala itself too. Earlier this month, Teen Vogue – a youth publication known for making space for more socially progressive stories – was folded into Vogue.com. Its news and politics editor Lex McMenamin, along with several other staff members, were laid off.

“This seems to happen increasingly with the Met Gala,” one user said on Instagram on Tuesday. “Condé Nast is making cuts, the gala is going on, rich people are riching. The optics are kind of uncomfortable.”