'Kisses Yes, Bezos No': Jeff Bezos' star-studded Venice wedding sparks backlash; locals voice dissent on overtourism and mouting costs
Venice wedding sparks backlash; locals voice dissent on overtourism and mouting costs
Hundreds of protesters marched through central Venice on Saturday as billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez concluded their three-day wedding celebrations in the lagoon city.
On Friday, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Sánchez tied the knot in an opulent wedding ceremony on the island of San Giorgio, joined by about 200 celebrity guests.
On Saturday, hundreds of locals and activists marched through the city, waving banners that read 'Kisses Yes, Bezos No' and 'No Bezos, No War.' Many Venetians expressed frustration over what they saw as the billionaire's lavish intrusion into a city already grappling with the pressures of overtourism, rising housing costs, and climate change.
Protesters criticized the extravagance of the event and its symbolic disconnect from the daily challenges faced by residents.
The couple stayed at the Aman Venice hotel on the Grand Canal and hosted a series of exclusive events throughout the weekend.
The guest list featured several prominent names, including Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Bill Gates, and members of the Kardashian-Jenner family.
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Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner also attended the festivities with their children.
Activists claimed their demonstration led to a last-minute venue change for Saturday's party, reported AP.
Bezos has donated €1 million each to three environmental organisations working to preserve Venice, including Corila, a Venetian research association. However, the gesture was met with skepticism by many demonstrators, who viewed the donation as insufficient.
'Those donations are just a misery and only aimed at clearing Bezos' conscience,' said Flavio Cogo, a local activist.
Despite the backlash, the city's administration defended the high-profile wedding, stating that Venice has always welcomed visitors—from emperors to celebrities—and that such events align with its tradition as an open and global city.
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