The biggest celebrity behind the event is weighing in on Jeff Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sánchez’s growing role at the 2026 Met Gala, offering strong support amid the ongoing debate around Bezos’s overall involvement.
Anna Wintour comments on Lauren Sanchez Bezos amid controversy
Anna Wintour has finally commented on the controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos’ participation in the 2026 Met Gala. Speaking to CNN, the longtime Met Gala architect praised the Amazon founder’s wife despite the controversy surrounding the couple’s new roles.
Wintour said, “I think Lauren is going to be a wonderful asset to the museum and to the event.” She added, “[I’m] very grateful for her incredible generosity, and she’s a great lover of costume and obviously of fashion, so we’re thrilled she’s part of the night.”
For more context, her comments arrive at a time when the decision to involve Jeff Bezos as a donor has drawn criticism. The Met Gala has traditionally relied on funding from major fashion houses, and Bezos’ recent political visibility, including attending a White House state dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman alongside Elon Musk and Tim Cook, has fueled concerns about the event’s creative direction.
Though Wintour recently stepped down as editor-in-chief of Vogue U.S. after an iconic 37-year run, she continues to serve as Vogue’s Global Creative Director and Chief Content Officer at Condé Nast. She will still help oversee parts of the 2026 Met Gala, which will also be the first gala under her successor, Chloe Malle.
The upcoming event will follow the theme “Costume Art”, with Saint Laurent and Condé Nast joining Bezos in contributing to the event’s fundraising efforts. The gala supports the museum’s Costume Institute, and the related exhibition will run from May 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027.
All in all, with a new theme, a new Vogue leader, and high-profile donors, the 2026 Met Gala, happening on May 4, 2026, is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about editions in recent years.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu for Mandatory.
