Charlize Theron Under Fire For Making 'Snide' Remark Made About Celebrities At Jeff Bezos' Wedding

Yahoo

2 days ago

Charlize Theron has poked fun at the celebrities who attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice.
While speaking at a charity gala for her foundation, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, the actress joked that those who received an invite to the exclusive event "suck."
Though her comment seemed lighthearted and without malice, the wedding itself drew real protests, with critics accusing Jeff Bezos of paying small taxes despite his billionaire status.
While the world is still reeling from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez tying the knot in Venice, Charlize Theron has trolled the attendees of the lavish nuptials.
Present at the ceremony were notable figures such as Tom Brady, the Kardashians, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Usher, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Orlando Bloom. The guest list also included several other high-profile stars and family members of the couple, which in total was rumored to be around 200.
However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Theron, who claimed not to have received an invite to the wedding, took a jab at the attendees during a charity event she was hosting.
"I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding. But that's OK because they suck and we're cool," the 49-year-old said at the event organized for her non-profit Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.
Theron's comments have since gone viral, with several slamming the actress as a "hater" and calling what she said "snide" while claiming she was "jealous."
One person on X wrote, "Why all the hate for that wedding? I thought it was tacky, but it's their cash, their call, their life. Those Hollywood elitists bashing it weren't even invited. Venice gave the green light, so deal with it. Their money, their party."
Another noted, "Another Hollywood Elite p-ssed that she wasn't invited to the wedding?"
A third individual commented, "Was she mad she wasn't invited? I mean, yeah, they suck but so does she."
Amid the criticism, some sided with Theron and called out Bezos and Sanchez's lavish nuptials.
A fan wrote, "There is something wrong when the founder of Amazon can spend 50 million on a wedding while the employees in Amazon warehouses are working to the bone for a pittance."
While her remark appeared to be made in good humor, the wedding wasn't without controversy.
Ahead of the nuptials, protesters gathered multiple times in Venice, vowing to disrupt the celebration.
Some local activists claimed that their protest was rooted in opposition to the "hubris" and "entitlement" of Bezos, whom they labeled as a "technocrat feudal overlord."
Two activist groups, Greenpeace and Everyone Hates Elon, also unveiled a massive anti-Bezos banner that boldly displayed the words "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax."
The groups also released a joint statement to emphasize their demands, pointing out that Bezos pays far less in taxes than someone with his level of wealth should.
"Jeff Bezos is the second-richest man in the world, yet is reported to pay a 1.1% true tax rate," they said, per the Daily Mail. "The multi-million-dollar wedding is reportedly happening over three days, with the wedding ring alone worth as much as $5 million."
Despite the backlash surrounding the nuptials, reports claim that the city of Venice was expected to generate over $1 billion from hosting the celebration.
This figure reportedly accounts for nearly 68% of the city's annual tourism revenue, driven by extensive logistics arranged for the couple and their guests, along with hospitality services.
As part of the wedding festivities, the couple reserved dozens of water taxis, effectively booking out a large portion of the city's fleet.
Guests also filled nearly all of Venice's top luxury hotels, including the Aman Hotel, where Bezos and Sánchez stayed, along with the St. Regis, Gritti Palace, Cipriani, and Hotel Danieli.
Given the massive figures, it is no wonder that Daniela Santanchè, the minister of tourism in Italy, earlier called for activists to "abandon the controversy and focus on opportunities."
"This is not just a private event but a concrete driving force for the entire sector," she said in a news release, per CNN. Venice has all it takes to transform it into an opportunity for relaunch and promotion."
Following the wedding, the newly married couple has reportedly left Venice to begin their honeymoon.
Although they haven't disclosed their exact plans, a source revealed that they would first stay in the Torcello area before heading to Nicelli Airport, per The Mirror.
From there, Bezos and Sánchez are expected to board a helicopter that will take them back to Bezos' $500 million superyacht, Koru, where they will set sail for Taormina in Sicily.
The historic destination is said to be a favorite of the couple, who fell in love with it during a sailing trip around the region last year.
In Taormina, they are expected to stay at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace, the same hotel famously featured as a primary filming location in "The White Lotus" Season 2.