Jeff Bezos relocates wedding event amid protests
Activists in Venice are celebrating what they are calling a major win after protests forced Jeff Bezos and his celebrity-studded wedding party to change their celebration plans and relocate away from the city center.
The billionaire Amazon founder is set to marry TV personality Lauren Sanchez this week, with a series of extravagant events spanning several days. The couple's main celebration was initially rumored to take place at the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia on Saturday, but officials have confirmed that the venue has now been moved to the Arsenale, a location farther from central Venice.
The change comes amid mounting opposition from local activists and environmental campaigners, who view the festivities as emblematic of growing inequality, unsustainable luxury, and the commodification of the city.
The wedding, expected to draw figures such as Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, and members of the Trump family, has drawn widespread criticism for its extravagance. Reports suggest that several hotels have been fully booked for the event, Venice airport is bracing for a surge in private jet landings, and a flotilla of luxury yachts will fill the harbor. Security measures reportedly include ex-US Marines.
Posters reading 'No Space for Bezos' have appeared throughout Venice, while banners have been hung from bridges and plazas. On Monday, members of a group named Everyone Hates Elon unfurled a massive image of Bezos in Piazza San Marco with the message, 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, then you can pay more tax.'
Despite the protestors' jubilation, not all Venetians support their actions. City councillor Simone Venturini dismissed the protests as 'ridiculous' and insisted that high-profile visitors like Bezos bring economic benefits.
"These protesters behave as if they own Venice but they don't," he said. "No one gets to decide who gets married here." Venturini emphasized that the event was private, limited to 200 invited guests, and held on private property.
Still, activists argue the broader issues remain. Venice continues to grapple with over-tourism, rising living costs, and the growing impact of climate change. While the city has introduced a five-euro daily tax for tourists, critics say the measure has done little to curb mass tourism.
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