The 2026 Met Gala turned [1] chaotic Monday night when an anti-Bezos protester broke through barriers and sprinted toward the red carpet, leading to a swift police response just feet from celebrities.
Designer Tom Ford had his arms around actress Julianne Moore when the disruption unfolded, as eyewitnesses described a sudden surge of movement near the Metropolitan Museum entrance.
A witness told Page Six that the protester, reportedly aligned with a group opposing Amazon’s labor practices, forced his way through a crowd of fans and press positioned behind a steel barrier along Fifth Avenue.
The commotion began across the street from the iconic staircase, where guests and photographers gathered to capture the night’s fashion highlights.
According to the same source, the man vaulted the first of two steel barriers before dashing through oncoming traffic beside Central Park to reach the red carpet perimeter.
He then cleared the second barrier in a matter of seconds, causing brief panic among attendees and security personnel stationed nearby.
Nearly a dozen police officers quickly subdued the protester, tackling him before escorting him away from the scene.
“Tom instinctively put his arms around Julianne to protect her,” the eyewitness said, emphasizing that the pair stood around twenty feet from where the protester was intercepted.
At the same time, other attendees were momentarily stunned as security increased presence near the carpet’s edge.
Actor Connor Storrie, known for his role in “Heated Rivalry,” was also present as the events unfolded.
Sources confirmed that Lauren Sanchez Bezos had already walked the red carpet earlier in the evening and had been inside for over an hour when the protest occurred.
Another observer noted that Jeff Bezos himself had not yet appeared on the carpet at the time of the disruption.
The Bezos couple serve as sponsors and honorary chairs of this year’s event, which heightened security measures due to ongoing demonstrations targeting the e-commerce giant.
Authorities remained vigilant throughout the evening as organizers ensured festivities resumed without further incident.
Representatives for both Julianne Moore and Tom Ford did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the commotion.
Despite the interruption, the gala continued as scheduled, with attendees returning to the opulent celebration once calm was restored.