Why Zendaya and Meryl Streep will not be attending this year’s Met Gala

WorldEntertainment
5 May 2026 • 2:28 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Why Zendaya and Meryl Streep will not be attending this year’s Met Gala

  • Zendaya and Meryl Streep are reportedly among the A-list celebrities skipping this year's Met Gala, scheduled for Monday, May 4.
  • Their reported absence coincides with calls for a boycott of the event due to the involvement of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, as lead donors and honorary co-chairs.
  • While Zendaya's reason is also attributed to taking a break from press tours, Meryl Streep's representative stated she has never attended the Met Gala, and it has "never quite been her scene."
  • Bezos's sponsorship has sparked backlash, with activist groups organizing poster campaigns near the Metropolitan Museum to protest his involvement.
  • Met Gala chair Anna Wintour has defended Bezos and Sánchez, expressing gratitude for their generosity and their passion for costume and fashion.

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