Sarah Paulson drew attention at the Met Gala last night (May 4) for far more than just her designer gown.
Stars from around the world descended on New York City for the annual spectacle at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This year’s guest list and outfits quickly became talking points. Blue Ivy, 14, reportedly made history as the youngest attendee, while Bad Bunny turned heads with a look that made him appear dramatically older.
Paulson, best known for American Horror Story, arrived in a Matières Fécales Fall 2026 red-grey tulle ball gown, styled with white gloves and a choker. The 51-year-old has been in a relationship with Holland Taylor, 83, for around a decade.
But it was her accessory that sparked the loudest reaction: a blindfold designed like a one dollar bill, which many interpreted as a deliberate message.
The bill included small cut-out holes, seemingly to help her navigate while still keeping the “blinded by money” visual intact.
One person suggested on Twitter: “The dollar bills are doing actual commentary, blindfolded by money, the gown is haute couture excess, and she’s standing on the Met carpet (literal cost-of-entry: $75K) staring back at us through cash.
“Whether it’s intentional satire or just an Avant-garde mood, it reads as the only fit on the carpet that’s actually saying something about the carpet.”
Another person said: “Sarah Paulson wore a dollar bill over her eyes at the most expensive party on earth. That’s not fashion that’s a statement. She understood the assignment better than everyone in a 50k dress.”
Not everyone was impressed, though, and some called out what they saw as mixed messaging.
Some criticized her for her look, however. One person penned online: “Sarah Paulson’s dollar bill mask is some sort of protest against the 1% of which she is a part. If you want to protest the rich don’t go to an event that costs $100k per ticket. And give your $12m net worth away.”
Elsewhere somebody branded her look and her attending the expensive event as being ‘hypocrisy at its finest’.
Overall, many viewers felt the styling was pointing to wealth—and the way money can obscure judgment—especially given the event’s elite setting. Some also framed it as a pointed nod toward Jeff Bezos, who helped fund this year’s gala.
When asked what her look was called, Paulson said ‘the one percent’. The phrase is commonly used to describe the wealthiest one percent of people, a category Bezos is often associated with.
Bezos’ association with the gala reportedly drew protest activity in the lead-up to the night. Hours before guests arrived, a video was projected onto his New York penthouse showing an Amazon worker pushing for fairer treatment for employees.
And, unsurprisingly, access to one of fashion’s most exclusive nights comes with a staggering price tag.
If you’re approved for the guest list by former Vogue editor Anna Wintour, individual tickets are said to cost about $75,000—roughly a 50 percent jump from 2023.
However, most celebrities aren’t paying that fee themselves. Instead, fashion houses and major brands typically purchase tables—reported to cost around $350,000—and then invite high-profile guests to attend dressed in the label’s designs.
The gala also serves a philanthropic purpose. It functions as a fundraising event for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with proceeds supporting exhibitions, acquisitions, and the department’s broader operating costs.