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Lauren Sanchez traded red carpet glam for a low-key family night out on Thursday, joining her eldest son Nikko and his NFL star dad Tony Gonzalez for sushi at a Hollywood hotspot.
The 56-year-old former newscaster, who recently raised eyebrows by chairing the Met Gala alongside billionaire beau Jeff Bezos, looked surprisingly relaxed in a casual track jacket and white leggings.
Gone were the custom $400,000 Dolce & Gabbana gowns, replaced by a chic, understated ensemble and a high ponytail.
Mother-of-three Lauren shares son Evan, 20, and daughter Ella, 18, with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, but this rare mother-son outing kept the focus firmly on Nikko, 25.
Keeping a low profile behind oversized dark sunglasses, Sanchez perfectly matched the casual vibe of her son and her ex-boyfriend, both dressed in muted black and grey tones.
Despite past drama - including her affair with Bezos, which began while she was still married to Whitesell and he was married to MacKenzie Scott - Sanchez appears to have kept an amicable co-parenting dynamic with both exes.
Lauren Sanchez traded red carpet glam for a low-key family night out on Thursday, joining her eldest son Nikko and his NFL star dad Tony Gonzalez for sushi at a Hollywood hotspot
The 56-year-old former newscaster, who recently raised eyebrows by chairing the Met Gala alongside billionaire beau Jeff Bezos , looked surprisingly relaxed in a casual track jacket and white leggings
Sanchez and Gonzalez first started dating around 2000, shortly after she split from NFL star Anthony Miller.
They welcomed Dolce & Gabbana model Nikko in 2002, though the couple eventually went their separate ways.
Their breakup was anything but quiet - rumors of cheating flew in every direction - but in recent years, the exes have clearly moved past the drama.
They’ve been spotted together at family outings, often with their new partners, proving that co-parenting can be surprisingly cordial.
Sanchez has even described Gonzalez as one of her 'best friends.'
His wife October remains close to Sanchez - so close, in fact, that she even attended her bachelorette party in Paris in 2025.
The blended family has also been seen enjoying some high-end adventures together, including time aboard Bezos’ luxury yacht.
Sanchez later began a relationship with Hollywood agent and Endeavor co-founder Whitesell, who is now happily married to Australian actress Pia Miller.
Keeping a low profile behind oversized dark sunglasses, Sanchez perfectly matched the casual vibe of her son and her ex-boyfriend, both dressed in muted black and grey tones
They were together for more than a decade when Sanchez’s affair with Bezos came to light in early 2019.
The exact start of their romance is unclear, but the National Enquirer first exposed the relationship that January.
Shortly after the revelation, the billionaire divorced his wife of more than 25 years and mother of his four children Scott, while Sanchez left Whitesell.
At the time, the bombshell report claimed the pair had been involved in an eight-month affair.
It turned out to be one of the most expensive divorces in history as Bezos handed over $38billion to Scott.
The former couple met in 1992 when they were both working at the investment firm D.E. Shaw & Co. in New York City.
Things moved very quickly for the pair. They were engaged three months after their first date and married three months later.
After tying the knot in 1993, the couple quit their jobs and moved to Seattle, Washington, so Bezos could launch Amazon.
Sanchez and Gonzalez first started dating around 2000, shortly after she split from NFL star Anthony Miller
Nikko walked the 2024 Dolce & Gabbana runway
Scott stood fiercely by his side as his online bookstore was transformed into a massive, multi-billion-dollar company.
Over the years, they welcomed three sons together and adopted a daughter from China.
Scott went on to remarry a science teacher named Dan Jewett in March 2021; however, they split less than two years later in September 2022.
Sanchez and her family’s recent sushi outing comes in the wake of the 2026 Met Gala, which fans have dubbed the ‘Amazon Prime Gala.’
The nickname gained traction after video surfaced of Sanchez’s mom dancing, a moment many described as the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for the event’s credibility.
From the start, Anna Wintour’s flagship fashion event was steeped in controversy.
When it was announced in November 2025 that Sanchez and her husband, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, would serve as lead sponsors and honorary chairs, criticism was swift.
The backlash only intensified when the $75,000-a-ticket gala kicked off with entertainment some attendees likened to a cruise ship performance.
Despite past drama - including her affair with Bezos , which began while she was still married to Whitesell and he was married to MacKenzie Scott - Sanchez appears to have kept an amicable co-parenting dynamic with both exes; Above, Bezos and Scott in 2019
Whitesell and Sanchez were together for more than a decade when Sanchez’s affair with Bezos came to light in early 2019; Above, in 2011
Sanchez and Wintour were treated to a lively performance by actor Joshua Henry and a 12-person choir, who delivered a spirited version of I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston.
Footage captured by the Daily Mail showed Sanchez visibly enjoying the music, dancing along with obvious delight.
Meanwhile, Met Gala fans reacted with surprise - and dismay - at the unexpected tone of the show.
‘It’s giving Carnival Cruise lines,’ one fan remarked, while another asked: ‘Why did anyone think a cruise ship cover band was a good idea?!?’
‘Looks like the cool kids need to start a new event. This one is donnnnne,’ wrote another Instagram commentator.
Other reactions included: ‘The farewell party for Anna Wintour's credibility,’ ‘This is the tackiest thing I’ve ever seen. Money can’t buy you class,’ and ‘It's giving welcome to the Amazon Prime Gala.’
Notably, Bezos was absent from the red carpet despite reportedly paying $10 million to co-chair the event.
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