Met Gala Protest Disrupts Event
On Monday night, the Met Gala witnessed a chaotic scene as police apprehended a protester near the red carpet, as reported by various sources and captured in video footage.
Fans and media were buzzing outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, creating a typical festive atmosphere. However, things took a turn when a witness noted a disturbance across from the entrance. They claimed that a man, believed to be protesting against Jeff Bezos, pushed through a crowd of fans and journalists. This individual managed to approach within about 20 feet of celebrities like Julianne Moore before the police intervened.
Video clips seemed to show the moment police tackled the man near the entrance.
The protester reportedly jumped over the first barricade meant to keep the public at bay, then rushed between vehicles and leapt over a second barricade. According to the witness, nearly a dozen officers brought the individual down and arrested him.
The New York Police Department confirmed the capture of a “disorderly male,” age 37, who jumped a barricade close to East Street and 5th Avenue outside the museum. Eyewitnesses suggested that this suspect was Chris Smalls, a known labor activist.
Designer Tom Ford supposedly stepped in to protect Julianne Moore as the man charged the red carpet. “Tom instinctively put his arms around Julianne to protect her,” said a witness. “He was only about 20 feet away from them.”
Another attendee, Connor Storrie, who stars in “Heated Rivalry,” was also reported to be on the red carpet during the incident.
Wide-sharing video footage depicted a heavy police presence as they swiftly escorted the suspect away from the gala, with no injuries reported.
The Met Gala, an exclusive event celebrating fashion and supporting the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, is invitation-only. Attendees often spend significant amounts—$100,000 each or $350,000 for a table of ten, as cited by CBS News.
This year’s gala had Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, serving as honorary chairs and leading sponsors for the event.
