Lisa Ann Walter calls Jeff Bezos 'Temu Lex Luthor' at anti-Met Gala protest in New York

Walter described the Met Gala as 'a vessel for one man’s ego' and joked that Bezos believes he can 'buy cool'

Lisa Ann Walter did not hold back while criticising Jeff Bezos during a protest held alongside the 2026 Met Gala.

The Abbott Elementary star took part in the “Ball Without Billionaires,” an alternative event organised by labor groups and activists to protest Bezos’ role as a major sponsor and honourary chair of this year’s Met Gala. During her remarks, Walter referred to the Amazon founder as a “Temu Lex Luthor,” comparing him to the iconic Lex Luthor while mocking his influence over one of fashion’s most exclusive nights.

“How did an event that’s supposed to celebrate creativity, artistry and fabulousness in all genders end up revolving around this Temu Lex Luthor?” Walter said, drawing cheers from the crowd. She also described the Met Gala as “a vessel for one man’s ego” and joked that Bezos believes he can “buy cool.”

The protest, staged in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, featured Amazon workers, union organisers, and activists who used fashion to highlight concerns about labor practices, economic inequality, and corporate influence in cultural institutions. The event was organised under the theme “Labor Is Art,” a pointed response to the Met Gala’s 2026 dress code, “Fashion Is Art.”

Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, served as honorary chairs and major financial backers of the 2026 Met Gala, reportedly contributing millions to support the event and its accompanying exhibition. Their involvement sparked criticism from activists and some celebrities, including Taraji P. Henson, who publicly questioned why stars were attending the Bezos-backed gala.

Despite the backlash, the Met Gala proceeded as planned at Metropolitan Museum of Art, while the “Ball Without Billionaires” drew attention for reframing the evening around workers and labor rather than wealth and celebrity.

Walter’s sharp “Temu Lex Luthor” jab quickly spread online, becoming one of the most memorable quotes to emerge from the protests surrounding this year’s Met Gala.