Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, frequently referred to as the Met, is a prominent museum located in Manhattan, New York. The institution houses the Costume Institute and serves as the venue for the high-profile annual Met Gala charity fundraiser. Held traditionally on the first Monday in May, the star-studded event brings together global pop stars, Hollywood actors, elite stylists, and luxury brands to raise funds for the museum's fashion department.

Coverage of the institution has recently centered on severe internal friction and public relations concerns regarding proposed themes for future Met Galas. Reports revealed that plans to honor controversial fashion designer John Galliano faced intense resistance from influential benefactors, political figures, and civil rights groups. Anti-Defamation League chief executive officer Jonathan Greenblatt held a last-ditch crisis meeting with Max Hollein, the director and chief executive officer of the Met, to urge leadership against centering fashion's biggest night on Galliano.

In response to donor pushback, scheduling conflicts with Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day, and industry fallout, museum leadership and trustees officially scrapped the proposed 2027 Galliano showcase. Decision-makers and organizers behind the scenes at Vogue and the museum subsequently began evaluating alternative routes to preserve the prestige of the annual fundraiser, including pivoting to a retrospective based on the Costume Institute's permanent collection.