The wedding festivities of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have begun in Venice, but the lavish celebration is not without controversy. As guests, including celebrities like Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey, arrived in style via speedboats, protesters took to the streets to express their discontent. The activists, united under the banner “No Space for Bezos,” claim that the billionaire’s wedding highlights growing wealth inequality and overtourism in Venice.
The protests, which have been ongoing for several days, feature dramatic demonstrations, including a giant banner in St. Mark’s Square depicting Bezos with the text “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax”. The activists also floated a life-size Bezos mannequin clutching dollar bills down the Grand Canal. According to the protesters, their efforts led to a change in venue for the wedding party, from the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the Arsenale, a more easily secured site.
The wedding celebrations, expected to span three days, have drawn significant attention from both the public and the media. With around 200 guests invited, the event has become a focal point for discussions about wealth disparity and the commercialization of Venice. The protests are seen as a reflection of the city’s growing frustration with tourism and the increasing presence of wealthy elites. Despite the controversy, the wedding festivities are moving forward, with the couple’s representatives remaining largely silent on the protests.
