Billionaire Wedding Prompts Venice Protests, Leads to Venue Shift
Protesters in Venice are celebrating a significant win after reported pressure led to a change in plans for the lavish wedding celebrations of US tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sánchez. The multi-day event, expected to draw a host of celebrities and the ultra-rich to the historic city, faced widespread opposition from locals and activists concerned about over-tourism, wealth inequality, and the environmental impact of such a large-scale private party.
The main celebration for the high-profile nuptials was originally anticipated to be held on Saturday at the opulent Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a stunning 16th-century building located centrally in Venice. However, a local official has now confirmed that guests will instead gather at the Arsenale, a historic complex of former shipyards situated further from the busy city center.
Activists from various groups, including “No Space for Bezos,” Greenpeace Italia, and “Everyone Hates Elon,” have claimed this venue change as an “enormous victory.”
“We Managed to Move One of the Most Powerful People”
Tommaso Cacciari from the group “No Space for Bezos” expressed immense pride in their success. “We are nobodies, we have no money, nothing,” he told the BBC. “We’re just citizens who started organising and we managed to move one of the most powerful people in the world – all the billionaires – out of the city.”
While city officials, like Councillor Simone Venturini, have dismissed the protesters as a “tiny minority” whose actions are “ridiculous,” arguing that such events bring valuable economic benefits, activists see the wedding as a symbol of deeper issues plaguing Venice.
Why the Protests? More Than Just a Wedding
The opposition stems from several concerns:
Over-Tourism: Venice is already struggling with the strain of excessive visitor numbers, pricing out locals and turning the city into what some protesters describe as a “big theme park” or “playground for the rich,” rather than a living community.
Wealth Inequality: Activists highlight the stark contrast between the extravagant spending of billionaires and the everyday challenges faced by ordinary citizens and the environmental crisis. A banner unfurled in St. Mark’s Square, also involving Greenpeace and Everyone Hates Elon activists, featured a laughing image of Bezos with the slogan: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding then you can pay more tax.”
Environmental Impact: The logistics of the event, involving an estimated 95 private jets expected at the airport, private yachts potentially crowding the harbour (Bezos’s massive yacht Koru was spotted off Croatia), and guests requiring extensive private transport, raise concerns about the environmental footprint, particularly in a city vulnerable to climate change impacts like flooding.
Political Opposition: Some protesters also oppose Bezos’s past political stances, including his support for Donald Trump.
Pressure Mounts, Plans Shift
The protests leading up to the wedding were highly visible, with “No Space for Bezos” posters plastered across the city and banners hung from bridges over the canals. Activists had also planned more disruptive actions, including a now-cancelled “wet protest” involving entering canals near venues with inflatable alligators to potentially block access.
Reports suggest that the combination of intense protester pressure, particularly the threat of disruptive actions like the “crocodile” blockade, and heightened security concerns – amplified by the arrival of high-profile guests like Ivanka Trump and the prevailing political climate – contributed to the decision to relocate the main Saturday event. The Arsenale, with its fortified walls, reportedly offers better security and control than the more exposed Scuola Grande della Misericordia.
Scale of the Celebration
The wedding festivities, expected to begin with guest arrivals mid-week and potentially culminating in a party on Saturday, reportedly involve around 200 carefully selected guests. Rumors about the star-studded guest list include names like Kim Kardashian, Mick Jagger, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elon Musk, Barry Diller, Diane von Fürstenberg, and several members of the Trump family. Five hotels are reportedly booked out entirely, and a team of former US Marines has reportedly been hired for security. While the main reception location changed, the wedding ceremony is still reportedly scheduled for Friday at the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Despite the venue change and the cancellation of some planned actions, groups like “No Space for Bezos” still intend to project their message onto a city building and are calling for participation in a public march later in the week, continuing to voice their opposition to the commodification of Venice.
