Service Employees International Union stages Ball Without Billionaires protest in New York
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 1
Service Employees International Union stages Ball Without Billionaires protest in New York
5 articles · Updated · CNN · May 1
The action is planned for Monday morning in downtown New York before the Met Gala, where Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are main benefactors and honorary chairs.
The Strategic Organizing Center and Amazon Labor Union will join workers from Amazon, Whole Foods, The Washington Post, Starbucks and Uber in an ethically themed fashion show.
Organisers cite alleged labour abuses and inequality, while the Met says gala funding supports the Costume Institute; tickets cost $100,000 and last year's event raised a record $31 million.
Will the controversy surrounding Bezos and Amazon force the Met Gala to rethink its fundraising model or choose different benefactors in the future?
How might mounting labor protests and lawsuits against Amazon influence broader public perception of philanthropy and luxury events like the Met Gala?
The "Ball Without Billionaires" Protest Challenges Jeff Bezos' Met Gala Sponsorship Amid May Day 2026 Labor Uprising
Overview
On May 1, 2026, a coalition of labor unions organized the "Ball Without Billionaires" protest in New York City to oppose Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's sponsorship of the Met Gala. The protest highlighted poor working conditions at Amazon, Starbucks, and Uber, where workers face low wages, unsafe environments, and lack of rights. This event, part of a nationwide wave of over 3,000 May Day protests, used a symbolic fashion show and a guerrilla poster campaign to challenge extreme wealth and labor exploitation. Despite defenses from the Met Gala leadership, the protest generated significant negative publicity and sparked calls for fair wages, union rights, and gig worker protections.