'Eat the rich:' Venice protests shadow billionaire Bezos wedding
At least 500 protesters marched through Venice, condemning Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's wedding to journalist Lauren Sanchez, a lavish affair that has drawn backlash in the historic Italian city.
"Bezos, out of the lagoon," the demonstrators chanted as they wound through the city centre, some brandishing signs that read: "Eat the rich," "Rejected," and accusations that Venice's mayor is "corrupt."
The peaceful protest, held in sweltering heat, was led by the "No place for Bezos" group, which has campaigned for days against what it calls the couple's harmful economic and environmental footprint on the city.
"We are here against what Bezos represents, his model, the Amazon model, based on exploiting people and land," said Alice Bazzoli, 24, an activist with "No Space for Bezos" who has lived in Venice for five years, speaking to AFPTV.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos travel on a boat as they leave Aman Venice hotel, on the third day of their wedding festivities, in Venice. Reuters
Protesters later unfurled a large "No place for Bezos" banner and lit flares above the famous Rialto Bridge spanning the Grand Canal.
Matteo Battistuta, a 20-year-old student, said he wanted to send the message that "Venice is fighting back, it's not a dead city, it acts in its own interest before tourism's." "We believe Venice can still be a place worth living in," he added.
Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, exchanged vows during a ceremony Friday evening on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, opposite St Mark's Square.
The ceremony capped off a week of yacht parties and VIP events, due to end with a lavish ball Saturday night -- as Venetians remain divided over the impact on the city's image.
Guests included Ivanka Trump, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, American football star Tom Brady, TV host Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates.
Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Emirates Woman
4 hours ago
- Emirates Woman
The best things to do in the UAE this July
If you're not travelling this summer, there's endless activites to look forward to to keep your schedule full and your creativity at an all time high. From elevated new restaurants to chic Pilates studios, here are the best things to do in the UAE this July. Check out a refined new Sunday brunch View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cala Vista (@calavistadubai) Bringing a taste of La Dolce Vita to Jumeirah Mina Al Salam is Cala Vista. While alfresco dining may be off the agenda, head chef Luca and manager Pasquale have curated a new relaxed Italian Sunday brunch, reminiscent of family Sundays in their native Italy. Available from 12.30pm to 4pm, enjoy sharing starters, theatrically cooked pasta mains, and a collection of indulgent homemade desserts. A roaming band adds to the lively ambience. Packages start from AED375. @calavistadubai Create your own permanent jewellery in the capital It's already a popular spot for beautiful, personal permanent jewellery in Dubai, and now Aglaiia has landed in Abu Dhabi's Yas Mall. The modern and minimalistic space invites you to create bespoke jewellery in white gold, yellow gold or rose gold, customising it with diamonds and gemstones and permanently fixing it for you. Bookings can be made via Fresha, with sessions from AED45. @aglaiiapermanentjewelry Catch up over a new ladies' night at J1 Beach View this post on Instagram A post shared by J1 Beach Dubai (@j1beachdubai) We know you've likely discovered the fabulous array of daytime dining and high-octane imbibing at J1 Beach's gorgeous hotspots. But there's a new reason to make plans around this exciting Dubai destination after dark with the launch of Gitano's new ladies' night. Every Thursday, there's complimentary drinks at the bar for ladies from 8pm to midnight, perfect for mid-week get-togethers. @ Stretch it out at a new Pilates studio View this post on Instagram A post shared by @soulmvnt A self-described curated space for body and soul, get stronger, leaner and more flexible at Soulmvnt, new in Dubai Design District. Opt for the Lagree class for next-level strength training, or try the high-energy mat Pilates session for maximum impact. Lower-tempo classes come in the form of yoga and sculpt. Classes start from AED169 for Lagree, and AED129 for all other sessions. @soulmvnt See an iconic popstar perform in the capital View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) One of the biggest pop icons on the planet, JLO touches down in the UAE capital with her Up All Night world tour on July 29 for one night only at the Etihad Arena. Fans of the hitmaker behind era-defining tracks like On The Floor, Get Right and Love Don't Cost A Thing can expect an electrifying performance of her biggest hits from across her legendary career. Tickets start from AED295. @ Stretch out summer days with a night swim View this post on Instagram A post shared by TAGOMAGO (@tagomagodubai) The latest craze to sweep through Dubai this summer is night swims – and they're taking over some of our favourite beach clubs and pools across the city. There's options to suit all styles – from loofty rooftop pools to laidback luxe beach clubs, but for a taste of Ibiza, we'll be booking the Noches de Verano night swim at Balearic-inspired Tagomago. Taking place every Friday and Saturday, sip, swim and bask in the moonlight, with an AED150 minimum spend. @tagomagodubai Make reservations at Dubai's newest restaurant View this post on Instagram A post shared by MR CHOW DUBAI (@mrchowdifc) An institution on London's dining scene since 1968, Mr Chow is now renowned worldwide for its signature take on contemporary Beijing cuisine. With restaurants in Beverly Hills, New York, Miami and Riyadh – its now landed in Dubai. Adding to the gourmet cuisine scene in DIFC, Mr Chow is now welcoming guests to discover why it's known and loved by A-Listers across the globe in Gate Village 3. Order the handmade noodles for the theatrical presentation and the iconic Beijing duck. @mrchowdifc Shop vintage pieces at the new So Much Trouble store Dubai's premier in-store experience for all things vintage and designer, So Much Trouble has a new home at Atlantis, The Palm. Inside, you'll find a curated edit of founder Dominique Laird's most beloved brands, as well as handpicked pieces it's impossible to find anywhere else. Perfect for a day of retail therapy. @somuchtroubledubai Check-in for a relaxing retreat on the shores of Ghantoot Tucked away along Abu Dhabi's coast, Anantara Santorini offers a serene, adults-only escape inspired by the Greek Isles. With the Santorini Couple's Serenity package, couples can enjoy sea-view luxury, wellness breakfasts, private yoga, and signature spa experiences designed for total relaxation. Rates start from AED2,950. @anantarasantorini Relax and re-centre with full moon yoga Beyond Wellness are behind some of the UAE's premier wellness experiences, with their viral floating wellness sessions taking place across the emirates. But they also offer an array of other classes – from sound healing and meditation to yoga and sculpt classes. On July 8, they will be hosting a full moon yoga and sound healing session at 7.30pm at Raffles The Palm. Bask in the serenity as you gather under the Capricorn moon. Sessions are AED199 + VAT, with yoga mats provided. @beyondwellnessdxb Images: Supplied & Featured Image: @ rabellejlali
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Fans criticize Beyoncé for shirt calling Native Americans 'the enemies of peace'
A T-shirt worn by Beyoncé during a Juneteenth performance on her "Cowboy Carter' tour has sparked a discussion over how Americans frame their history and caused a wave of criticism for the Houston-born superstar. The T-shirt worn during a concert in Paris featured images of the Buffalo Soldiers, who belonged to Black US Army units active during the late 1800s and early 1900s. On the back was a lengthy description of the soldiers that included "their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.' Images of the shirt and videos of the performance are also featured on Beyoncé's website. As she prepares to return to the US for performances in her hometown this weekend, fans and Indigenous influencers took to social media to criticise Beyoncé for wearing a shirt that frames Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries as anything but the victims of American imperialism and for promoting anti-Indigenous language. A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not respond to a request for comment. The Buffalo Soldiers served in six military units created after the Civil War in 1866. They were comprised of formerly enslaved men, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers and fought in hundreds of conflicts - including in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II - until they were disbanded in 1951. Artifacts are displayed inside the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas, on Friday. AP As the quote on Beyoncé's shirt notes, they also fought numerous battles against Indigenous peoples as part of the US Army's campaign of violence and land theft during the country's westward expansion. Some historians say the moniker "Buffalo Soldiers' was bestowed by the tribes who admired the bravery and tenacity of the fighters, but that might be more legend than fact. "At the end of the day, we really don't have that kind of information,' said Cale Carter, director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston. Carter and other museum staff said that, only in the past few years, the museum made broader efforts to include more of the complexities of the battles the Buffalo Soldiers fought against Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries and the role they played in the subjugation of Indigenous peoples. They, much like many other museums across the country, are hoping to add more nuance to the framing of American history and be more respectful of the ways they have caused harm to Indigenous communities. "We romanticize the Western frontier,' he said. "The early stories that talked about the Buffalo Soldiers were impacted by a lot of those factors. So you really didn't see a changing in that narrative until recently.' There has often been a lack of diverse voices discussing how the history of the Buffalo Soldiers is framed, said Michelle Tovar, the museum's director of education. The current political climate has put enormous pressure on schools, including those in Texas, to avoid honest discussions about American history, she said. Director of Education Dr Michelle Tovar (centre) and archivist Jason Fung describe how current displays will be redone inside the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas, on Friday. AP "Right now, in this area, we are getting pushback from a lot of school districts in which we can't go and teach this history," Tovar said. "We are a museum where we can at least be a hub, where we can invite the community regardless of what districts say, invite them to learn it and do what we can do the outreach to continue to teach honest history.' Beyoncé's recent album "Act II: Cowboy Carter' has played on a kind of American iconography, which many see as her way of subverting the country music genre's adjacency to whiteness and reclaiming the cowboy aesthetic for Black Americans. Last year, she became the first Black woman ever to top Billboard's country music chart, and "Cowboy Carter' won her the top prize at the 2025 Grammy Awards, album of the year. "The Buffalo Soldiers play this major role in the Black ownership of the American West,' said Tad Stoermer, a historian and professor at Johns Hopkins University. "In my view, (Beyoncé is) well aware of the role that these images play. This is the 'Cowboy Carter' tour for crying out loud. The entire tour, the entire album, the entire piece is situated in this layered narrative.' But Stoermer also points out that the Buffalo Soldiers have been framed in the American story in a way that also plays into the myths of American nationalism. As Beyoncé's use of Buffalo Soldiers imagery implies, Black Americans also use their story to claim agency over their role in the creation of the country, said Alaina E. Roberts, a historian, author and professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies the intersection of Black and Native American life from the Civil War to present day. "That's the category in which she thought maybe she was coming into this conversation, but the Buffalo Soldiers are even a step above that because they were literally involved in not just the settlement of the West but of genocide in a sense,' she said. Several Native influencers, performers, and academics took to social media this week to criticize Beyoncé or decry the shirt's language as anti-Indigenous. "Do you think Beyoncé will apologize (or acknowledge) the shirt?' an Indigenous news and culture Instagram account with more than 130,000 followers, asked in a post Thursday. Many of her critics, as well as fans, agree. A flood of social media posts called out the pop star for the historic framing on the shirt. "The Buffalo Soldiers are an interesting historical moment to look at. But we have to be honest about what they did, especially in their operations against Indigenous Americans and Mexicans,' said Chisom Okorafor, who posts on TikTok under the handle @confirmedsomaya. Okorafor said there is no "progressive' way to reclaim America's history of empire building in the West, and that Beyoncé's use of Western symbolism sends a problematic message: "That Black people, too, can engage in American nationalism.' "Black people, too, can profit from the atrocities of (the) American empire,' she said. "It is a message that tells you to abandon immigrants, Indigenous people, and people who live outside of the United States. It is a message that tells you not only is it a virtue to have been born in this country, but the longer your line extends in this country, the more virtuous you are.' Associated Press
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Queen Rania, Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa's style highlights from Jeff and Lauren Bezos wedding weekend
The Jordanian royal family were among the famous guests in Venice at the weekend, for the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Queen Rania stepped out in several eye-catching looks by Italian designers including Fendi and Armani Prive. For the first day of celebrations on June 26, she wore a light pink sequinned Fendi gown, from the Italian fashion house's 2018 autumn/winter couture collection. She accessorised the shimmering dress with a complementary shawl, white-gold Dior Bois de Rose bracelet and pink Gianvito Rossi pumps. On day two, she wore a strapless Armani Prive gown. The green, blue and gold striped gown was finished with floral embellishment, and Queen Rania completed her look with a light green shawl, a floral gold necklace and an elegant clutch. It was not all formal looks for the royal, however. She arrived in the Italian city following the unofficial dress code for arrivals – head-to-toe monochrome – wearing a Veronica Beard T-shirt and Wandler tapered trousers, with Prada quilted platform sandals, a Jacquemus medium Bambola bucket bag and Saint Laurent sunglasses. A second casual look saw the Jordanian queen wear a white Remain cut-out jersey top with a pair of relaxed Alo trousers. Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa Queen Rania wasn't the only Jordanian royal in attendance. Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa, along with their young daughter, Princess Iman, were also seen arriving by boat. Like her mother-in-law, upon arrival, Princess Rajwa opted for a dark outfit, pairing a linen Citizens of Humanity shirt and trouser set with off-white Alexander McQueen tennis shoes, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, and a suede Bottega Veneta Intrecciato shoulder bag. The couple's daughter, Princess Iman, was dressed in a white daisy-embroidered dress by French infants brand Tartine et Chocolat, with a pair of sandals by British high-street chain Next. For the first day of formal celebrations, Princess Rajwa wore a gold Tom Ford turtleneck gown with leopard print slingback pumps and a mini handbag by Dolce & Gabbana. She also accessorised the look with a gold belt borrowed from Queen Rania. She previously wore the gold belt to formally announce her engagement to Prince Hussein in 2022. The following day, she wore a black sequinned gown by Lebanese fashion house Hassidriss. Prince Hussein was dressed for the occasion in a classic black tuxedo. Princess Iman Also in attendance was Princess Iman, the eldest daughter of Jordan's King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. For the first day of celebrations, she wore a light green, draped silk Givenchy gown with a delicate floral pattern. Sticking to a nature-inspired palette, she wore a green Oscar de la Renta cape-sleeved gown in an olive green hue. The look was completed with a pair of FerriFirenze earrings, which have previously been worn by Queen Rania. Famous guests at the Bezos wedding The Jordanian royals were among a long list of famous guests spotted in Venice over the weekend, including Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, Brian Grazer, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Between 200 and 250 A-listers from the worlds of entertainment, politics and finance attended the celebration, which was dubbed the 'wedding of the century', and reported to have cost more than $20 million. Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, arrived in Venice via helicopter on Wednesday and stayed at the luxurious Aman Venice, where rooms overlooking the Grand Canal start at €4,000 ($4,686) a night.
