The Met Gala, long synonymous with spectacle and exclusivity, is facing a different kind of attention this year. Boycott calls are circulating, late-night jokes are writing themselves, and one of tech’s most recognizable figures just got a new nickname. The jab came from actress Lisa Ann Walter, who took aim at Jeff Bezos, comparing him to a “Temu Lex Luthor.”
Jeff Bezos roasted by top actress amid Met Gala 2026 boycott
Jeff Bezos became the target of prominent actress Lisa Ann Walter‘s sharp rebuke amid growing calls to boycott the 2026 Met Gala. At The Ball Without Billionaires, an alternative fashion show held May 5, 2026, to counter the Met Gala, the Abbott Elementary actress openly criticized the Amazon founder.
Walter directly criticized Bezos, whose sponsorship of this year’s Met Gala has drawn backlash and prompted boycott calls. His involvement has also fueled reports that Meryl Streep and Zendaya declined to attend. “We all know what’s happening uptown tonight,” Walter stated. “There’s one guy. One very big, very bald billionaire who wants to make the Met Gala all about him.”
Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, were listed as sponsors and honorary co-chairs for this year’s fundraiser. Questioning Bezos’s involvement, Walter described him as a “Temu Lex Luthor”, who profits from exploiting labor. She asked how an event meant to honor creativity, artistry, and inclusivity across all genders had been reduced to a platform for one man’s ego.
Before turning her criticism toward Bezos, Walter offered praise for The Ball Without Billionaires event. She said that it showed what happens when the people who truly keep the world running host their own celebration.
The event was co-hosted by actress and fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. According to Fast Company, the event featured current and former employees from Amazon, The Washington Post, Starbucks, and other companies. They modeled designs centered on the theme “Labor is Art.” It served as a pointed counter to the Met Gala’s theme, “Fashion is Art.”
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
