Protester Breaches Met Gala Security, Tackled Near Tom Ford and Julianne Moore

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Met Gala became the site of a dramatic security breach on Monday night, May 4, 2026, as a protester vaulted over barricades and approached the red carpet before being tackled by police.

Video footage captured by Page Six, New York Magazine, and others shows the individual sprinting across Fifth Avenue, dodging traffic, and clearing two steel barricades outside the museum. Officers swiftly intervened, swarming the protester and bringing him to the ground within seconds.

No injuries were reported in the incident. Authorities did not immediately release the protester’s identity or disclose potential charges.

Opposition to Jeff Bezos’ Role at the Met Gala

The disruption unfolded amid organized protests against Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who served as honorary chairs of the 2026 gala. Activists criticized Amazon’s labor practices, with messages condemning the company appearing across New York in the days leading up to the event.

One group, Everyone Hates Elon, called for a boycott and claimed to have placed bottles of fake urine around the museum as a symbolic protest tied to allegations about Amazon warehouse conditions. These claims could not be independently verified.

Protester’s Path to the Red Carpet

According to Page Six, the protester leapt over the first of two steel barriers, navigated through Fifth Avenue traffic, and cleared the second barrier before being stopped roughly 20 feet from attendees, including fashion designer Tom Ford and actor Julianne Moore. Ford reportedly moved to shield Moore as the individual approached.

Additional video shared by journalist Sandi Bachom appeared to show activist Chris Smalls jumping the barricade in an attempt to reach the red carpet. Bachom’s footage, captured with an iPhone 17 Pro Max, documented the chaotic scene.

"The moment activist Chris Smalls jumps the barricade at the #MET_GALA attempting to crash the red carpet. Somebody yelled protest and I couldn’t see a thing so I put my iPhone 17 Pro Max at the extension of the monopod and pressed record. And followed the camera."

The New York Police Department did not respond to requests for comment following the incident. The Met Gala has been a frequent target of protests, including NYPD arrests of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in 2024.