Jeff Bezos’ Lavish Venice Wedding Faces Backlash, Leading to Venue Change Amid Protests
Venice, Italy – What was planned as a fairytale three-day wedding celebration for US tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez in the historic heart of Venice has instead become a focal point for intense local protests. Activists across the city are now claiming an “enormous victory” after the main wedding party venue was reportedly changed, forcing the ultra-wealthy guests further from the bustling city centre.
While the official venues for the lavish event were never publicly confirmed, the celebrations were widely expected to culminate on Saturday at the stunning Scuola Grande della Misericordia. However, local sources and officials have indicated that guests will now gather instead at the Arsenale, a historic shipyard complex known for its fortified walls and location further east from the city’s most congested areas.
A Mega-Event Draws Mega-Protests
The sheer scale and opulence of the impending nuptials, involving one of the world’s richest men, immediately drew scrutiny and criticism in a city grappling with the pressures of over-tourism and environmental fragility. The event is expected to host around 200 A-list guests, with reports of private jets inundating Venice airport, private yachts filling the harbour, five entire hotels booked out, and even former US Marines providing security. Estimated costs for the multi-day affair vary, with some reports suggesting millions are being spent.
This display of extreme wealth clashed sharply with local concerns, igniting protests from various groups including “No Space for Bezos,” Greenpeace, and “Everyone Hates Elon.” Their grievances extend beyond the wedding itself, highlighting deeper issues:
Over-tourism: Locals feel priced out and burdened by the constant influx of visitors, viewing the wedding as an extreme example of Venice being treated as a “theme park” for private parties rather than a living city.
Wealth Inequality: The event starkly contrasts the lifestyles of the super-rich with ordinary citizens facing economic challenges.
Climate Change: Activists point to the carbon footprint of such an event (e.g., private jets) as unsustainable, especially in a city highly vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Tax Justice: Banners appeared across the city, including one in St. Mark’s Square stating: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding then you can pay more tax.”
Protest actions have been visible throughout Venice, from “No Space for Bezos” posters plastered on walls to banners strung over canals. Activists unfurled a giant image of Bezos in Piazza San Marco, symbolising their opposition to billionaire excess and perceived social and climate injustice.
Planned Disruption and a Claimed Victory
Seeking to disrupt the event and amplify their message, some activist groups had planned direct action. This included a particularly unique protest involving launching themselves and inflatable alligators into canals near key venues to block the path of guests arriving by boat.
While this specific “wet protest” was reportedly called off, activists celebrated the news of the venue change as a direct result of their pressure. Tommaso Cacciari from “No Space for Bezos” described it as an “enormous victory,” asserting that ordinary citizens had managed to move “one of the most powerful people in the world… out of the city centre.”
Reports suggest the move from the central Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the more secluded Arsenale was influenced by the threat of disruption. The Arsenale’s fortified nature makes it significantly harder for protesters to access and interfere with the event. Some local reports also cited security concerns, particularly linked to global geopolitical tensions and the presence of high-profile guests, as contributing factors to the location change.
City Officials Push Back
Venetian city officials have strongly criticised the protesters, defending the decision to host the event and downplaying the significance of the demonstrations. Simone Venturini, a city councillor, called the protests “ridiculous” and claimed the activists were a “tiny minority” who do not represent the city’s residents. He argued that such high-profile events bring important economic benefits and that the wedding guests are using privately-owned venues. “No one gets to decide who gets married here,” he stated. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro also publicly expressed shame towards the protesters, suggesting they oppose people “bringing riches” to the city.
Despite official dismissals, the underlying issues highlighted by the protests – over-tourism, housing affordability for locals, and the environmental challenges facing Venice – remain serious concerns for the city’s future.
Though the planned canal blockade is off, activists still intend to continue their demonstrations, with plans for projections onto buildings and a scheduled protest march this weekend, described as a “no Bezos, no war” event aiming to showcase their vision for a different Venice. For these groups, the change in venue, regardless of the exact reasons, represents a symbolic win against the perceived commodification of their historic city by the global elite.
