The Debt Gala, a bold and accessible alternative to the Met Gala, will return for its third year at The Bell House in Brooklyn on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Designed to spotlight economic and healthcare justice, the sold-out event invites New Yorkers to protest through fashion while raising funds for critical causes.
Launched in response to skyrocketing healthcare costs and the exclusivity of traditional galas, The Debt Gala transforms red carpet culture into a platform for activism, according to event organizers.
This year’s theme, “Let Them Eat Cake: Ruined Riches,” encourages attendees to creatively deconstruct symbols of extreme wealth—lace, pearls, gold, and silk—by distressing them with rips, stains and frays. The result is a high-fashion protest with satirical flair.
“The Debt Gala is a protest, a love letter, a fundraiser and a fashion show,” said co-founder Molly Gaebe. “‘Eat the rich,’ but make it formalwear. This is about redistributing wealth, fun and attention to where they truly belong.”
The event raises funds for Undue Medical Debt and For the Gworls,—two nonprofits working to offset the burden of healthcare costs. Undue Medical Debt turns every $10 into roughly $1,000 of medical debt relief for those in need. For the Gworls, a Black trans-led collective, provides emergency funds for gender-affirming care and medical expenses.
“Healthcare is a human right, and celebration is a tool,” said Tom Costello, co-founder of The Debt Gala. “In just two years, we’ve turned a red carpet into a lifeline—shifting resources where they’re needed most.”
Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, emphasized the event’s deeper purpose.
“Medical debts are debts of necessity,” Sesso said. “They burden over 100 million Americans, disproportionately impacting communities of color. Families shouldn’t be financially ruined simply because someone gets sick or has a chronic condition.”
The gala will also feature performances and community-centered celebrations curated by Stage Time’s PJ Adzima.
“This night is about more than just glamour and glitter—it’s about community, visibility and solidarity,” said Adzima. “We’re proud to stand with an event that uplifts voices, challenges systems and proves that performance can be an act of resistance.”
