Hundreds of bottles filled with what appeared to be urine were discovered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the Met Gala on May 5, 2026, according to the New York Post. The protest was claimed by the anti-billionaire group Everybody Hates Elon, which targeted the event over Jeff Bezos serving as the gala's chair. The group left the bottles with signs labeling them a "Met Gala VIP toilet" and criticizing Bezos for alleged labor practices at Amazon, where workers reportedly feel forced to urinate in bottles due to lack of bathroom breaks. The group later clarified on Instagram that the bottles did not contain real urine.
The incident underscores growing backlash against the involvement of billionaires like Jeff Bezos in high-profile cultural fundraisers, highlighting tensions between elite philanthropy and labor rights. It also reflects the use of provocative, symbolic protests to draw attention to corporate practices, leveraging the visibility of the Met Gala to amplify criticism of Amazon's working conditions and tax avoidance. The protest raises questions about the intersection of art institutions, wealth, and social responsibility.