New York City socialite Julie Macklowe will appear in an upcoming episode of Joe Pardavila’s “Good Listen” podcast, aiming at one of fashion’s most prestigious events, the Met Gala.
The former hedge fund manager and socialite, known for her sharp opinions, describes the annual gala—often called the “Oscars of Fashion”—as a “giant s**t show” that has lost much of its original allure.
Macklowe laments the shift in the event’s guest list, noting that what was once a gathering of socialites, business leaders, and actual A-list celebrities has become dominated by influencers.
“Half the people who go there, I don’t even know who they are,” she says, adding that the trend of attendees opting for increasingly revealing outfits has become a focal point of the event. Interestingly, Macklowe appeared nude in a Vogue ad for her skincare line, vbeauté, in May 2014.
The Met Gala has hosted nearly every major celebrity, including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé, alongside socialites like Elyse Newhouse, Gillian, and Sylvester Miniter.
However, in recent years, influencers such as Addison Rae, Dixie D’Amelio, Emma Chamberlain, and Madison Beer have also been welcomed to the event, a shift that Macklowe criticises.
Despite not attending the gala since 2019, Macklowe shares a memorable moment from her last appearance during the “Camp”-themed event, when she briefly encountered Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
“I was standing in line, and Jeff Bezos was literally right next to me,” she recalls. “He’s like, ‘What is in that flask? And can I have a sip?’ I’m like, ‘I have whiskey in my flask.’ So, he sipped from my flask.”
Macklowe, who now owns a single-malt whiskey brand, is fully aware of the potential consequences of speaking out against Anna Wintour’s meticulously curated event. “I don’t care if I don’t get invited back,” she states bluntly.
Macklowe is not the first to criticise the Met Gala. Comedian Amy Schumer once told Howard Stern that the event felt like “people making an impression of having a conversation” and referred to attendees as “a bunch of f**king assholes.”
Similarly, singer Demi Lovato complained about the cliquey atmosphere, describing the event as full of “mean girls” and attendees who were “fake and sucking the fashion industry’s d**k.” Tina Fey famously dubbed the gala a “jerk parade,” criticising the superficiality of the event.
Despite these critiques, the Met Gala remains one of the most sought-after invitations in the fashion world. Tickets range from $30,000 to $50,000, with tables costing between $275,000 and $500,000.
However, gaining entry isn’t solely about purchasing a ticket; each guest must receive an invitation and approval from Wintour. As a source told Page Six in 2020, “If Anna has had a bad experience with you or doesn’t feel like you should be in, you’re not invited.”
