Night of Rage Interrupts Met Gala Stage
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images and Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Over the past month, universities nationwide have been thrown into chaos by pro-Palestinian protests, demonstrations, and related encampments. These actions, which call for an end to the war in Gaza, have disrupted campus life, leading to clashes with school administration and law enforcement, and interrupting graduation commencements and other public ceremonies.
In the midst of this turmoil, Vogue editor-in-chief and fashion icon Anna Wintour was busy coordinating the final details for the fashion industry’s most celebrated night of the year - the annual Met Gala. This event, held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, attracts luminaries from the worlds of fashion, entertainment, music, sports, and politics. The proceeds from the gala, which can cost between $75,000 and $350,000 to attend, benefit the Met’s Costume Institute. However, the exclusivity of the event has led to criticism that it is a pedestal for out-of-touch A-list celebrities.
This year’s “Garden of Time” event, held on Monday evening, was no exception. It featured star-studded names such as Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth. Despite its typical opulence and splendor, the ultra-exclusive Met Gala was not insulated from the turmoil of the outside world. As celebrities walked the red carpet, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered nearby in Central Park and at Hunter College. They then marched toward the museum in an attempt to disrupt the lavish fundraiser with picket signs, smoke bombs, and flares as part of an organized “Citywide Day of Rage.”
Shortly after 7 pm, the protesters approached the Met. NYPD officers formed human barricades to divert the activists away from the event and the red carpet arrivals. This clash resulted in multiple arrests and drew complaints from demonstrators who claimed they were gathering peacefully.
This demonstration was just the latest in a series of controversies that cast a large shadow over this year’s gala. Unionized event employees had threatened to abandon their responsibilities following stalled contract negotiations with the event’s host, Condé Nast. After engaging in fierce negotiations, the two sides finally reached an agreement earlier that day. This agreement provided workers with increased wages, more extensive hybrid work protections, and additional parental leave.
Adding to the controversy and distraction, the Met Gala fell victim to a prank when an image of Katy Perry in attire on the red carpet circulated on social media. Unfortunately for the gala, the singer and American Idol judge was not even in attendance. The AI-generated deep fake even fooled Ms. Perry’s mother, thus capping off a memorable night at the Met - but not for the reasons that Ms. Wintour could have envisioned.