Latest news with #CTAOP
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Purpose over party: Charlize Theron slams Jeff Bezos‘ $50m wedding, claims many in SA dying
Charlize Theron threw shade at Jeff Bezos' wedding against a backdrop of global issues and claims of South Africans dying due to US aid cuts. Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos depart from the Aman hotel to attend the last party of their wedding celebrations in Venice on 28 June 2025. Actress Charlize Theron pictured at Block Party charity event in Los Angeles over the weekend. Pictures: EPA/ Daniel Aniel dal Zennaro and AFP Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron highlighted the importance of global issues over glamorous excess with a thinly veiled jab at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding extravaganza in Venice over the weekend. Speaking at her fifth annual Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) Block Party event in Los Angeles on Saturday, the South African-born star ripped into the A-list wedding guests, saying 'they suck'. '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.' As the crowd applauded her remarks, the 49-year-old actress reportedly added: 'Yeah, f–k them'. Charlize Theron: Bold Bezos wedding statement at Block Party Theron's comment, though delivered with her signature wit, wasn't just a throwaway line. South African-American actress and film producer Charlize Theron arrives at the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) Block Party 2025 held at the Universal Studios Backlot in Universal City, Los Angeles, California. Picture: Image Press Agency / NurPhoto via AFP According to Hollywood Reporter, the Old Guard 2 star quickly pivoted to a serious tone, thanking her guests for attending the CTAOP event 'especially when the world feels like it's burning, because it is'. Burning issues: 'It's personal' – Theron She emphasised pressing global issues, stating: 'Here in Los Angeles, in the US and across the globe, we're moving backwards fast. 'Immigration policy has destroyed the lives of families, not criminals; women's rights are becoming less and less every day; queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased; and gender-based violence is on the rise. 'This isn't just policy, it's personal.' Trump's foreign aid cuts According to Variety, the Academy Award winner claimed many people in South Africa have 'already' died without US aid. Although she didn't mention US President Donald Trump by name, the actress appeared to reference efforts by him and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut foreign aid spending through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds. 'Foreign aid cuts brought HIV and Aids programmes in my home country of South Africa to an absolute standstill. All of this is not just detrimental, it's dangerous,' Theorn told Variety's Mark Malkin at the charity event. 'People will lose their lives. Many have already, unfortunately, and at a frightening rate. It's absolutely heartbreaking to see this kind of unnecessary suffering.' Charlize Theron's Block Party: Focus on impact The CTAOP Block Party, held to raise funds for Theron's nonprofit organisation, featured a performance by Reneé Rapp and a live 'Hot Ones' segment with Theron and her Old Guard 2 co-star KiKi Layne. By juxtaposing her fundraiser with the Bezos wedding, the charity event underscored Theron's deep-rooted commitment to advocacy over Hollywood glitz and glamour. Bezos $50m wedding vs CTAOP's mission The extravagance of the 61-year-old Amazon founder's $50-million (about R889.4 million) Venice wedding celebrations, is in stark contrast to the CTAOP's mission to support youth health and safety in South Africa. Charlize Theron poses with British actor David Oyelowo and his wife British actress, Jessica Oyelowo, as they attend the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project 2025 Block Party at Universal Studios backlot in North Hollywood, California on 28 June 2025. Picture: Unique Nicol/ AFP Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding bash Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, a former TV journalist and helicopter pilot, tied the knot on Friday, 27 June in a lavish three-day celebration in Venice. With a net worth estimated by Forbes to be $226.7 billion, the executive chair of the e-commerce giant is rumoured to have spent a staggering $50-million for the wedding, The event boasted a star-studded guest list of more than 200, including A-listers like Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Tom Brady and Orlando Bloom. Held on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the wedding featured a custom Dolce & Gabbana wedding gown for Sánchez, a performance by Matteo Bocelli and over-the-top festivities, including a welcoming party at the Chiostro Madonna dell'Orto and a final celebration at the Arsenale, a former medieval shipyard. Charlize Theron's remarks spark cheers and controversy Theron's remarks sparked a mix of reactions on social media with some supporters praising her for calling out the disconnect between celebrity excess and global crises such as immigration and gender-based violence. One X user commented: 'Charlize is out here speaking truth while the A-listers sip champagne in Venice.' Others, however, dismissed her comments as a sign of envy: 'Theron shouldn't worry. She can go to his next wedding.' Bezos-Sanchez wedding: Venice mass protests Venice itself was divided over the wedding. While city officials welcomed the economic boost, with 80% of provisions sourced from local vendors like Rosa Salva and Laguna B, many residents felt the event epitomized overtourism and inequality. As per Page Six, the 'No Space for Bezos' campaign group threatened to clog canals with inflatable crocodiles, and posters featuring Bezos' head on a rocket appeared across the city. Last week, Greenpeace Italy unfurled a banner in St Mark's Square reading: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax,' while a dummy of Bezos was tossed into the Grand Canal, clutching an oversized Amazon package.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Vin Diesel shows off new physique at star-studded charity event
Vin Diesel has been photographed looking noticeably less buff while posing with some of his celebrity pals. Diesel, best known for his role in the Fast and Furious franchise, flashed a smile as he hugged his former co-star, Charlize Theron while attending her Africa Outreach Project event in Los Angeles at the weekend. Advertisement Wearing a black vest top and dark sunglasses, Diesel showed off a larger frame as he enjoyed the event with his famous pals. 3 Diesel, best known for his role in the Fast and Furious franchise, flashed a smile as he hugged his former co-star, Charlize Theron while attending her Africa Outreach Project event in Los Angeles at the weekend. Getty Images for CTAOP 3 Vin Diesel has been photographed looking noticeably less buff while posing with some of his celebrity pals. Getty Images for CTAOP His latest public appearance comes after a fellow actor took a stab at Diesel during an interview earlier this year. Advertisement Actor Paul Walter Hauser launched a surprising spray on Vin Diesel in a recent interview, recoiling when the interviewer jokingly compared him to the action star. Recent Golden Globe winner Hauser was sitting down with outlet CinemaBlend in a press junket for his latest film, Inside Out 2, in which he voices the character 'Embarrassment.' 3 His latest public appearance comes after a fellow actor took a stab at Diesel during an interview earlier this year. Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement But he had no embarrassment hitting back when the interviewer joked to Hauser that his character's arc in the animated film means 'you're like Vin Diesel now.' 'Please don't say that,' he shot back, explaining: 'I like to think I am on time and approachable.' Hauser's Inside Out 2 co-star Lewis Black reacted with shock as he explained his surprise diss.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"This isn't just policy, it's personal...": Charlize Theron calls out Jeff Bezos' wedding celebration; highlights that the world is burning down
If you have been living under a rock for a week, let's get you updated. The world's third-richest man just got married in an opulent celebration. While some hailed it as a dream wedding, others did not hesitate to call out the multimillion-dollar party. The 'Bombshell' actress Charlize Theron threw shade at the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez , along with all the celebrities who attended their wedding in Venice. While hosting the fifth annual Block Party for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) on Saturday, she spoke about how the world feels like it's burning in 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter. What did Charlize Theron say? Kickstarting the event, which raises funds to help CTAOP support the health and safety of youth in her native South Africa, Theron said, 'I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding. But that's OK because they s–k and we're cool.' Furthermore, Charlize thanked the audience for taking their time out to be part of the event, adding that especially when the world feels like it's burning. 'Here in Los Angeles, in the US and across the globe, we're moving backwards fast. Immigration policy has destroyed the lives of families, not criminals; women's rights are becoming less and less every day; queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased; and gender-based violence is on the rise. This isn't just policy, it's personal,' the 49-year-old said. About the Bezos-Sanchez wedding Jeff Bezos (61) and Lauren Sanchez (55) had their dream wedding in a three-day celebration. The couple tied the knot on Friday, June 27, in Venice, despite the party being tainted with mass protests, where they asked the guests to simply go away. The celebrities who joined the festivities included the Kardashian clan, Kim, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie, and their mother, Kris, along with Sydney Sweeney , Ellie Goulding, Leonardo DiCaprio , Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates , and many more.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Charlize Theron shades Bezos wedding guests: ‘They su*k, we're cool' at $50 M Venice extravaganza
Actress Charlize Theron isn't holding back when it comes to criticizing the famous people who went to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez 's wedding in Italy over the past weekend. While setting up the fifth annual Block Party for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) on Saturday, the Old Guard star took aim at the founder of Amazon and his spouse, according to a Hollywood reporter. Theron makes fun of Bezos' wedding guests She discussed it when she took the stage to introduce the event, which generates money for CTAOP to support youth safety and health in her home country of South Africa. 'I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding. But that's OK because they s**k and we're cool,' she remarked. After that, Charlize thanked everyone for "taking the time to be a part of this." 'Especially when the world feels like it's burning because it is. Here in Los Angeles, in the US, and across the globe, we're moving backwards fast. Immigration policy has destroyed the lives of families, not criminals; women's rights are becoming less and less every day; queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased; and gender-based violence is on the rise. This isn't just policy, it's personal,' she continued. The Oscar winner responded, "Yeah, f*** them," to the applause from the audience. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Kit alarma con cámara Wi-Fi: ¡Precio increíble por tiempo limitado! Verisure Alarmas Leer más Undo Regarding the wedding A-list celebrities and influential people came to Venice to celebrate Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's three-day wedding celebration, even though Charlize Theron was not invited. Despite the ongoing protests, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos married in an extravagant ceremony in Venice. After several days of celebrity-filled nuptial celebrations, the Amazon founder and award-winning journalist hosted a luxurious wedding ceremony on June 27. Bezos' friends billionaire Bill Gates , Oprah Winfrey, model Brooks Nader, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom and his model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, their youngest sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and family matriarch Kris Jenner were among the A-list celebrities who attended the wedding. Growing frustration with wealth and class inequality around the world led to protests in the area calling for the owner of Blue Origin to pay more in taxes, sparking outrage over the Venice wedding plans both online and offline. An estimated $50 million was spent on the lavish wedding, which ended on June 28, the third official day of events.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Charlize Theron: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding guests 'suck'
Charlize Theron joked Jeff Bezos' wedding guests "suck". The Old Guard 2 actress hosted her fifth annual Block Party for her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) on Saturday (28.06.25) night, and took a swipe at the likes of Oprah Winfrey, the Kardashian family and Tom Brady for heading out to Venice, Italy for the lavish three-day nuptials between the Amazon billionaire and Lauren Sanchez. Opening the fundraiser at the Universal Studios backlot, she quipped: "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 actress noted how "the world feels like it's burning" at the moment and slammed legislation for "moving backwards fast". She said: "[Thank you for] taking the time to be a part of this, especially when the world feels like it's burning because it is. "Here in Los Angeles, in the U.S. and across the globe, we're moving backwards fast. Immigration policy has destroyed the lives of families, not criminals; women's rights are becoming less and less every day; queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased; and gender-based violence is on the rise. "This isn't just policy, it's personal.' To applause from the audience, she added: 'Yeah, f*** em.' Charlize - who was deported from the US back to South Africa at 19 for overstaying her work visa but later returned and became an American citizen in 2007 - also warned about "dangerous" cuts to foreign aid schemes. She said: "[They have] brought HIV and AIDS programs in my home country of South Africa to an absolute standstill. All of this is not just detrimental, it's dangerous; people will lose their lives — many have already, unfortunately, and at a frightening rate. It's absolutely heartbreaking to see this kind of unnecessary suffering.' However, the Bombshell star insisted there is still "hope". She said: 'But what we also see, what we cannot miss, is the resistance. There is hope. There is power in all of us standing up, organizing, protesting, voting, and caring for each other, and refusing to accept that this is the new normal. 'That spirit of resistance, justice and care for each other, that's the spirit that drives the work at CTAOP. And although our focus is on the youth in Southern Africa, what we're really talking about here tonight is that all lives should be valued. Everyone should have the right to be healthy and safe and should be able to be seen.' The event - which raises money for CTAOP's work supporting the health and safety of young people in South Africa - saw a performance from Renee Rapp, while Charlize and her Old Guard 2 co-star KiKi Layne took part in a live version of Sean Evans' Hot Ones alongside the highest bidder from the night's fundraising auction.
