Restaurateur Keith McNally, who’s no stranger to controversial Instagram posts, has made a habit out of insulting celebrities. And his latest target is Lauren Sánchez, the fiancée of one of the most powerful people in the world, Jeff Bezos.
But with some major heavyweights in her corner, Sánchez has the upper hand.
McNally, who owns more than a dozen restaurants including NYC’s famed Balthazar, wrote a seemingly out-of-the-blue Instagram post attacking Sánchez and Bezos on Monday.
“Does anybody else find Jeff Bezos’ New wife — Lauren Sanchez — ABSOLUTELY REVOLTING?” he wrote in the original post, accompanied by a series of pictures of the couple, according to The Cut. “What an ugly and Fucking SMUG – LOOKING couple they make. Is this what having 1000 Billion dollars does to people?”
McNally’s post was later edited, though, as of Friday, it read: “What a Bizarre-looking couple. Is this what having 1000 billion dollars does to people?”
But before McNally watered down his insults, Sánchez’s reputation proved she was not to be trifled with.
Scores of celebrities rushed to defend Sanchez, also an actress, pilot, philanthropist, and founder of an aerial filming company. Her relationship with Bezos became public after Bezos’ divorce from MacKenzie Scott in 2019. Since then, the two have been pictured in the throes of unabashed fun, often aboard Bezos’ $500-million yacht, as Sánchez’s reputation as a mover-and-shaker attracts a growing rank of diehard fans.
Chrissy Teigen commented on McNally’s post, writing, “She’s actually incredibly dynamic, accomplished and kind, and everyone who knows her would say the same.”
Jessica Seinfeld, who’s married to Jerry Seinfeld, wrote in a since-deleted post, “This post is a reflection of your twisted, pitiful, and hideous mind. Lauren has twice the character you do,” according to The Cut.
And MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle commented that Sánchez is “accomplished, kind, smart and loved,” adding that McNally’s post was “mean for no reason,” The Cut reported.
Though Sánchez herself has not directly reacted to McNally’s insults, she did follow them with a few Instagram Stories calling for kindness.
In a Story posted on Tuesday, which is no longer viewable, Sánchez shared a quote that read, “People will love you. People will hate you. And none of it will have anything to do with you,” according to The Independent.
Sánchez also shared a quote attributed to fashion designer Rachel Zoe. “Lead with kindness,