By Sofia Abdelrahim

One of the most anticipated events in the fashion industry took place on Monday, May 4. This year’s Met Gala came with countless intricate references to various art pieces. However, it would not be the Met Gala without controversy. 

This year’s theme was “Costume Art,” with the dress code being “Fashion is Art.” This theme highlighted the connection between various forms of art, clothing, and the body that wears it. This year’s co-chairs included Venus Williams, Beyoncé, Anna Wintour, and Nicole Kidman. Since its founding in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the Met Gala has served as a fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Some of the most talked-about outfits of the night include Sabrina Carpenter’s dress made out of strips of film from the 1954 movie “Sabrina” starring Audrey Hepburn. Sabrina Carpenter was the special performer of the night and brought out Stevie Nicks to perform “Landslide” together. The moment felt especially iconic considering Carpenter headlined Coachella less than three weeks earlier and featured Madonna during her set. Carpenter also wore several outfits during the night, including a maxi dress from Versace’s 2018 Spring collection that featured Warhol-esque images of Marilyn Monroe.  

Another look that’s a personal favorite of mine was Hunter Schafer’s custom Prada look, inspired by the painting “Mäda Primavesi” by Gustav Klimt.

There were also celebrities who missed the mark on the theme, like Ben Platt, who wore a suit that appeared to have George Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon” printed on it. On top of that, the suit itself did not fit him particularly well.

However, the most controversial aspect of the night was the sponsorship of the Met Gala by Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez. According to The Daily Beast, multiple celebrities reportedly chose to boycott this year’s Met Gala, while working-class protesters gathered near Bezos’ penthouse by Madison Square Park.

Much of the controversy stems from Amazon’s labor violations allegations and accusations that the company funds ICE operations. Protesters also placed small bottles of yellow liquid around the Met Museum to symbolize the Amazon employees allegedly being denied bathroom breaks while working.

Sánchez arrived in a dress inspired by the painting “Portrait of Madame X” by John Singer Sargent. When painting debuted in 1884, it caused controversy and was considered scandalous and immoral. In a way, it feels symbolic Sánchez referenced such a controversial artwork while she remains a controversial figure today. 

In the end, the 2026 Met Gala proved to critics that fashion goes beyond simply what people wear. Instead it serves as a reflection of art, society, and culture.