Protesters Target Jeff Bezos with Urine Bottles at Met Gala Over Amazon Layoffs

The 2026 Met Gala, sponsored by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, became a flashpoint for labor activism. Demonstrators placed bottles of urine at the venue, a visceral tactic meant to highlight anger over Amazon’s workforce reductions.

Amazon announced in January that it would cut roughly 16,000 corporate positions, the second wave of layoffs in three months. The cuts followed an October reduction of 14,000 roles and are part of a broader restructuring that includes deeper integration of generative AI and a push to simplify the organization.

Senior Vice President Beth Galetti explained that U.S. employees receive a 90‑day window to apply for internal transfers. Those who cannot secure a new role are offered severance, outplacement services, and continued health benefits.

Protest groups used the gala’s high‑profile platform to criticize Bezos’s influence on cultural events and to demand greater corporate accountability. Slogans referenced taxation and the perceived misuse of billionaire wealth in elite gatherings.

The protest underscores growing scrutiny of large tech firms as they pursue cost‑saving automation while facing backlash over labor practices. Amazon’s strategy to replace or reshape certain corporate functions with AI may intensify the debate.

What to watch next: Amazon’s next quarterly report for clues on how the layoffs and AI rollout affect its financial performance and employee morale.