Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez were announced as lead sponsors of the Met Ball, the exhibition it celebrates, and the event's exhibition, in February. The announcement was overshadowed by the fact that organizers omitted the primary backers from the event’s financial contributions while unveiling the guest roster and the 2026 theme. This has sparked outrage online, leading to a protest movement in New York's subways where DIY posters criticizing Amazon's warehouse and delivery labor practices and its reported ties to immigration enforcement through Amazon Web Services. The protest was created by U.K.-based protest collective, Everyone Hates Elon, and distributed via Google Drive for public use.