‘It’s problematic’: concern as weight-loss jab maker sponsors Vogue World event

Critics say partnership between Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly and fashion giant suggests thinness is an aspiration

The fifth iteration of Vogue World, overseen by Anna Wintour, took place in Milan on Tuesday night. Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lopez provided theatrics on the catwalk, but it was one of the event’s backers that caused the biggest stir.

Eli Lilly, an American pharmaceutical company that manufactures a wide range of medicines, including weight-loss jabs Mounjaro and the Foundayo pill, was listed in the event credits as one of its “fashion adjacent” sponsors.

The pharmaceutical company also sponsored the 2025 Vogue World in Hollywood, as well as the Met Gala livestream earlier this year, which included a promotional video starring the actor Patrick Schwarzenegger and the fashion brand Public School.

While the ongoing partnership did not explicitly link Mounjaro or Foundayo with Vogue, the marriage of high-profile fashion events and a weight-loss drug manufacturer has attracted fierce criticism from eating disorder charities and academics.