The Met Gala, one of the most highly anticipated fashion events of the year, is causing controversy as Senator Rick Scott criticizes the invitation of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew as an honorary chair. Senator Scott, a Republican from Florida, argues that Chew leads the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) efforts to spy on children and gather their information. He believes that every attendee and co-chair of the event should be questioned about their acceptance of this decision.
Vogue Magazine recently announced that Anna Wintour, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth will be hosting the 2024 Met Gala. Alongside them, Shou Zi Chew and Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson will serve as honorary chairs. The Met Gala is a significant fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, often attended by celebrities, prominent business figures, and politicians.
This announcement comes at a time when TikTok is facing increased scrutiny from lawmakers due to its questionable business practices. Chew previously testified before Congress regarding TikTok’s alleged ties to the CCP and concerns about user privacy. Just this month, he appeared again at a congressional hearing to discuss the potential harm of the short video-sharing app, particularly concerning children and controversial content.
Senator Scott’s criticism stems from the fact that TikTok is owned by China-based company ByteDance. As of March 2023, there were approximately 150 million active American users on the app. In response to concerns about national security and the app’s harmful content to children, several countries including Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, and the UK have banned TikTok on government devices. India and Nepal have gone even further by implementing nationwide bans on the Chinese social media app.
Furthermore, lawmakers in Washington have expressed worries about TikTok’s ties to the CCP, suggesting that the company could potentially hand over American users’ data to Chinese authorities. The Chinese intelligence law mandates that organizations and citizens must support and cooperate with security and intelligence agencies when requested. This has raised concerns that TikTok could be used as a tool for espionage or propaganda by the Chinese regime.
During a congressional hearing, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers accused TikTok of having ties to the Chinese regime through its parent company ByteDance. She argued that the app should be banned due to CCP laws that require Chinese companies to spy on their behalf. FBI Director Christopher Wray has also expressed concerns about TikTok’s alleged ties to the CCP, stating that it poses a threat to U.S. national security.
In addition to these concerns, a cybersecurity firm called Internet 2.0 found that TikTok allegedly tracks users’ contacts, locations, and passwords. Last year, European regulators fined TikTok $368 million for failing to protect children’s privacy.
The Epoch Times reached out to TikTok for comment, but they did not respond.
The invitation of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew as an honorary chair at the Met Gala has sparked controversy and raised important questions about the app’s ties to the CCP and potential threats to user privacy. As lawmakers continue to scrutinize TikTok’s business operations, the fashion event faces criticism from Senator Rick Scott, who believes that attendees and co-chairs should be held accountable for their acceptance of Chew’s honorary position. With bans on TikTok in multiple countries and concerns about data privacy and national security, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the future of the popular app.
