Sarah Paulson’s 2026 Met Gala look is getting consideration, however not precisely the sort she might have hoped for.
The “Fowl Field” actress arrived on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork carrying a daring “blinded by the cash” costume, amid rising requires the star-studded occasion to be boycotted over its reported Jeff Bezos-linked sponsorship.
Some social media customers labeled the second essentially the most “hypocritical celeb stunt of the yr,” whereas others slammed the actress as “delusional,” arguing that her presence on the elite gathering undercut the message of the costume.
Paulson arrived at Monday evening’s Met Gala in a frothy grey tulle robe from Matières Fécales’ A/W 2026 assortment, fittingly titled “The One %.” She accomplished the daring ensemble with a greenback invoice masks worn over her eyes.
Explaining the message behind Paulson’s outfit, Matières Fécales described the look as political style at its boldest.
“Vogue is Artwork and at its most daring, Political,” the style home mentioned.
The model’s Instagram account additionally leaned into the anti-wealth message, sharing a publish by a cultural commentator who praised Paulson’s look as a pointed dig on the ultra-rich and the staggering quantity of wealth and assets they management.
Paulson Accused Of Lacking The Level
Paulson’s obvious critique of the one-percent elite didn’t land with everybody.
As a substitute, many critics argued that the actress seemed to be blinded by the irony of her personal style assertion. Pointing to her reported $12 million web value, some social media customers claimed the actress is hardly outdoors the demographic her outfit gave the impression to be mocking.
Others questioned how efficient the message could possibly be when delivered from inside one of many yr’s most unique celeb occasions. The backlash additionally comes as different celebrities seemingly selected to distance themselves from the occasion altogether, per Cosmopolitan.
Sarah Paulson’s Assertion Additionally Will get Roasted On-line
The net response was even harsher, with many social media customers calling Paulson’s outfit “delusional” and “hypocritical.”
One X person argued that the actress’s message fell flat as a result of she delivered it from contained in the very world she seemed to be criticizing.
“There’s one thing nearly poetic about critiquing elite blindness whereas seated comfortably inside it,” the person wrote. “At a sure level, it stops being commentary and begins changing into set design.”
One other critic dismissed the look as “self-aggrandizing fake symbolism,” including, “It’s not the flex she thinks it’s.”
Others had been much more direct. “Hypocrisy on show,” one individual wrote. One other took a swipe at her reported wealth, writing, “Wealthy millionaire, Sarah Paulson, what a stereotypical hypocrite from the left. Give away half of your wealth, and I would think about you, not a hypocrite.”
The Met Gala Has Confronted Related Backlash Earlier than
Paulson’s outfit additionally drew comparisons to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s headline-making 2021 Met Gala look, when the congresswoman wore a white robe emblazoned with the message “Tax the Wealthy.”
That second sparked its personal wave of criticism, with many calling it “out of contact” given the occasion’s famously steep ticket worth. Critics additionally identified that Ocasio-Cortez attended as a Vogue visitor and reportedly didn’t pay for her personal seat.
The Met Gala confronted related scrutiny once more final yr, when critics questioned the optics of celebrities celebrating excessive style and excessive wealth whereas international crises, together with the warfare in Gaza, dominated headlines.
Some Followers Got here To Sarah Paulson’s Protection
Not everybody agreed that Paulson’s Met Gala look was hypocritical, nevertheless.
Some social media customers argued that the actress was in a powerful place to make the assertion, particularly given her reported $12 million web value, which remains to be nowhere close to the staggering wealth held by billionaires.
“Not sticking up for the performative BS, however it’s good to notice that if she made 12 million yearly, it might take 66,000 years to equal Elon’s web value. It’s not even comparable,” one person wrote.
One other individual argued that Paulson’s wealth shouldn’t be positioned in the identical class because the ultra-rich people her outfit appeared to criticize.
A 3rd defender additionally pushed again in opposition to comparisons between the actress and the extraordinarily rich, saying, “In case you suppose being value 12 million {dollars} is anyplace close to the .01%.. ” You, my pal… are retarded.”
