A Wren Says

Last week, there was an uproar about the Met Gala. And let’s be real, it was there in the weeks prior, too. It wasn’t about the general excess that the event was known for. No, it was about who would be there. Jeff Bezos and his new wife, Lauren Sanchez, were named honorary co-chairs of the event after making a massive donation. People felt that the billionaire’s presence was a blight on the artistry and creativity the gala was known for. They criticized Anna Wintour and Vogue for letting this happen. What with all her standards, how could she?

And please, continue to critique the rich and powerful, but I don’t think you’re ready for the real conversation that we need to have. It’s our fault, too.

I know, I know. You’re not a billionaire. You’re not destroying worker’s rights. You’re not what you believe to be evil incarnate. But we are all a part of how this came to be. Because when was the last time you bought a magazine? Or for that matter, made a donation to the museum?

Conde Nast, the parent company of Vogue, would likely have not felt the need to sell to the Bezos if we were all still reading magazines. Anna Wintour wouldn’t have to open to the access open to essentially her boss. If we all continued to subscribe or pick up paper copies at the grocery store, they’d have the readership to secure the necessary ad revenue to stay afloat. The industry would be doing well. The owners would not have felt as if they were in a precarious position. (And to take it further, if we were all supporting museums at a higher rate, the Met Gala wouldn’t even need to exist.)

The Bezos gala, as some have referred to it, is actually commentary on journalism as an industry. If the event outraged you, it’s time to think differently about what you’ll do next. How will you support the arts, writing, and creativity so that those in fields don’t feel pushed to situations like this in the future? It’s easy to critique a billionaire, but there is power still in our hands. What is our next move?