Anna Wintour supports the Bezoses.
Vogue’s global editorial director has defended the newly announced lead sponsors of the 2026 Met Gala, Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos, amid intense backlash.
“I think Lauren will be a great addition to the museum and the event,” Wintour, 76, told CNN during a red carpet interview at the Franca Fund gala in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.
“We are so grateful for her incredible generosity,” she continued. “She loves costumes and of course fashion, so we’re thrilled to have her join us on this night.”
The endorsement comes after the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced last week that the Bezoses, along with secondary sponsors Saint Laurent and Condé Nast, will fund next year’s Costume Institute exhibition and accompanying gala.
The theme of the May 4 festival and spring show is “Costume Art,” which explores the role of the “clothed body” throughout the museum’s collection.
News of the Bezoses’ involvement sparked an immediate backlash on social media.
Instagram users flooded the museum’s exhibition announcement with comments claiming the couple was trying to “buy” cultural legitimacy.
“This is such an iconic theme and so sad to see it watered down and scrapped by sponsorship choices,” one user wrote.
“The Metropolitan Museum of Art sold to the highest bidder!!!” chimed in another. “It’s just so unpleasant.”
Tech giants paying for costume institutes isn’t exactly new territory. Amazon sponsored the event in 2012, and TikTok, Instagram, Apple and Yahoo have all written checks in previous years. Billionaire Stephen A. Schwartzman and his wife Christine underwrote the 2018 exhibition.
The Bezos have continued their fashion offensive this year, sitting front row at Paris Fashion Week and mingling with the likes of the Kardashian-Jenners at luxury brand dinners and industry galas.
The former journalist, 55, and her Amazon founder husband, 61, skipped the 2025 Met Gala to prepare for their wedding in June, but made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2024 event. In June, Sanchez appeared on the digital cover of Vogue wearing a white lace wedding dress by Dolce & Gabbana.
