The star-studded Venice wedding of multi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez this weekend has galvanized activist groups that are protesting it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots as well as disregard of the city’s residents.
About a dozen Venetian organisations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — have united to protest the multi-day event under the banner “No Space for Bezos,” a play on words also referring to the bride’s recent space flight, says AP.
They have staged small-scale protests, unfurling anti-Bezos banners on iconic Venetian sites. They were joined this week by Greenpeace and the British group “Everyone Hates Elon,” which has smashed Teslas to protest Elon Musk, to unfurl a giant banner in St. Mark’s Square protesting purported tax breaks for billionaires.
“IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX,” read the banner, which featured a huge image of Bezos. Police quickly took it away.
There has been no comment from Bezos’ representatives on the protests.
Among the 200 guests confirmed to be attending the wedding are Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Critics cite Amazon’s labor practices, ongoing tax disputes with European governments, and Bezos’ political associations as additional reasons for concern.
Activists also argue that the Bezos wedding exemplifies broader failures in municipal governance, particularly the prioritisation of tourism over residents’ needs. They cite measures such as the day-tripper tax — which critics argue reinforces Venice’s image as a theme park — as ineffective. Chief among their concerns is the lack of investment in affordable housing and essential services.
However, city officials have defended the wedding. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called the event an honor for Venice, and the city denied the wedding would cause disruptions. “Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage,’’ Brugnaro told AP, adding he hoped to meet Bezos while he was in town.
Meanwhile, a Venetian environmental research association, Corila, issued a statement saying Bezos’ Earth Fund was supporting its work with an “important donation.”
Corila, which unites university scholars and Italy’s main national research council in researching Venetian protection strategies, would not say how much Bezos was donating but said contact began in April, well before the protests started.
