- TikTok is sponsoring the Met Gala this year, and CEO Shou Chew is expected to be there.
- The “ban or divest” law was just passed 2 weeks ago, and TikTok plans to fight it in court.
- It will be interesting to see if Chew says anything about the bill.
Celebrities like Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Doja Cat will attend the Met Gala on Monday night, and as a human who likes beautiful things, I am excited to see what glamorous outfits they’ll be wearing
But I am more interested to see TikTok CEO Shou Chew — who hasn’t done a public appearance or interview since the “TikTok ban” law was passed about two weeks ago.
TikTok has said that it will challenge this law in the courts, and it’s likely that this could tie things up for some time. (So don’t expect it to disappear from your phone anytime soon.)
It just so happens that TikTok is a main sponsor for this year’s Met Gala, so that’s why Chew is expected to be there. This won’t be his first time at the gala — he attended in 2022. Other tech leaders have attended, too, like Jeff Bezos (who is expected to be there this year with his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez), Adam Mosseri, and Elon Musk.
The Met Gala is a beloved, fun event with a highbrow sheen. It can be a way for celebrities to forge a defining image. It’s a perfect venue for the leader of a company being accused of being a national security risk to appear charming and dapper in a tux.
Unlike Musk or Mark Zuckerberg, Chew isn’t a household name, and the general public doesn’t appear to have a solid opinion about him. (Even US senators have questioned him on his nationality.)
It will be interesting to see if the images of Chew from Monday’s gala will affect the public’s current understanding of him and TikTok.
The Met Gala isn’t exactly a place where an embattled tech leader expects to get grilled, and it’s unclear if Chew will be doing any red-carpet interviews that will go too far beyond who he’s wearing. (According to The New York Times, he is expected to wear Ralph Lauren.)
