Jacob Elordi Faces Online Scrutiny for Wearing Sunglasses Indoors at Gala

Jacob Elordi drew online criticism after attending the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday with his girlfriend Kendall Jenner, notably keeping his sunglasses on throughout the indoor event. The actor's decision sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many users interpreting it as an attention-seeking or arrogant move.

One commenter stated, "Sunglasses? Trying waaay too hard," while another questioned, "Why is Jacob wearing those glasses all the time?" A third user criticized his demeanor, writing, "He comes off extremely arrogant. Wearing sunglasses to a party. You are not that special."

Elordi, dressed in a black tuxedo, white shirt, and bow tie, attended the event with Jenner, who wore a custom Valentino polka dot gown. The couple, who were first romantically linked in February, have largely maintained a private relationship but appeared affectionate at their table during the gala.

This incident is the latest in a series of public encounters where Elordi has expressed discomfort with the intensity of paparazzi and fan attention. Earlier in the month, footage showed Elordi confronting photographers in Paris, pleading for them to stop flashing their cameras and allow him and Jenner to walk to their hotel.

"Wait, wait, wait, can we just walk home?" he was heard saying. "Stop, stop, stop. Can we just walk home back to our hotel? No flash, just let us walk. Just let us go."

During the encounter in Paris, Elordi eventually put on sunglasses as he and Jenner continued walking with security. This behavior has been noted as part of a pattern where the actor makes his feelings about unwanted attention clear.

In a previous incident in Japan, Elordi politely but firmly told a fan, "Please don't touch me, bro," after the fan approached him from behind and placed a hand on his back. The exchange went viral, with some defending Elordi's right to personal space and others criticizing his response.

More pointedly, in December 2025, Elordi expressed his struggles with constant attention to a photographer in Paris's Gare du Nord station. "You make it really hard for me to live," he told the photographer, who had expressed admiration. When the photographer insisted he loved Elordi, the actor retorted, "I don't love you."

Elordi has previously spoken about the overwhelming nature of his rapid rise to fame, likening the constant scrutiny to living in "The Truman Show." He described the internet attention following his 2018 film "The Kissing Booth" as "so frightening."