Sarah Paulsonwe are in 2026 Met Gala her look commands attention, but not exactly the kind she might have hoped for.
The “Bird Box” actress arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a daring dress “blinded by money” amid growing calls to boycott the prestigious event due to its sponsorship linked to Jeff Bezos.
Some social media users called the moment “the most hypocritical celebrity stunt of the year,” while others called the actress “delusional,” arguing that her presence at the elite gathering undermined the dress’s message.
Sarah Paulson made a bold financial statement at the Met Gala
Paulson arrived at Monday night’s Met Gala in a frothy gray tulle dress from Fecal Matter’s A/W 2026 collection, aptly titled “The One Percent.” She completed the bold ensemble with a dollar bill-shaped mask worn over her eyes.
Explaining the message behind Paulson’s outfit, Feces described the look as political fashion at its most daring.
“Fashion is an art and, at its most daring, it is political,” the fashion house said.
The brand’s Instagram account also leaned into the anti-wealth message, sharing a post from a cultural commentator who praised Paulson’s look as a pointed critique of the ultra-rich and the staggering amount of wealth and resources they control.
Paulson accused of missing the point
Paulson’s apparent criticism of the one percent elite did not convince everyone.
Instead, many critics argued that the actress seemed blinded by the irony of her own fashion statement. Pointing to her net worth of $12 million, some social media users claimed the actress was hardly outside of the demographic her outfit seemed to mock.
Others wondered how effective the message might be if delivered from inside one of the most exclusive celebrity events of the year. The backlash also comes as other celebrities have seemingly chosen to distance themselves from the event entirely, according to Cosmopolitan.
Sarah Paulson’s statement also released online
The online reaction was even harsher, with many social media users calling Paulson’s outfit “insane” and “hypocritical.”
One X user argued that the actress’ message fell flat because she delivered it from the very world she seemed to criticize.
“There is something almost poetic about criticizing the blindness of an elite while they sit comfortably inside,” the user wrote. “At some point it stops being commentary and starts becoming stage design.”
Another reviewer called the look “self-aggrandizing false symbolism,” adding, “It’s not the flex she thinks it is.”
Others were even more direct. “Displayed hypocrisy,” one person wrote. Another criticized her reported wealth, writing: “Rich millionaire Sarah Paulson, what a stereotypical left-wing hypocrite. Give away half your wealth, and I might consider you not a hypocrite.”
The Met Gala has previously faced similar backlash
Paulson’s outfit also drew comparisons to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s headline-making appearance at the 2021 Met Gala, when the congresswoman wore a white dress emblazoned with the message “Tax the Rich.”
The moment sparked its own wave of criticism, with many calling it “out of touch” given the event’s notoriously high ticket prices. Critics also pointed out that Ocasio-Cortez attended as a guest of Vogue and apparently did not pay for her own seat.
The Met Gala came under renewed scrutiny last year, when critics questioned the optics of celebrities celebrating high fashion and extreme wealth while global crises, including the war in Gaza, dominated headlines.
Some fans came to Sarah Paulson’s defense
However, not everyone agreed that Paulson’s Met Gala look was hypocritical.
Some social media users argued that the actress was in a strong position to make the statement, especially since her reported net worth is $12 million, which is still far from the staggering wealth held by billionaires.
“I’m not defending performative BS, but you have to understand that if she made 12 million every year it would take her 66,000 years to equal Elon’s net worth. It’s not even comparable,” one user wrote.
Another person argued that Paulson’s wealth should not be placed in the same category as the ultra-wealthy individuals his group seemed to criticize.
A third advocate also objected to comparisons between the actress and the extremely wealthy, saying: “If you think being worth $12 million is 0.01%.” » You, my friend… are retarded.
