The lavish wedding of Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez sparks protests as locals decry city’s ‘privatisation’ and disruption. Photo/X.
Jeff Bezos Wedding: Billionaire Jeff Bezos is set to marry Lauren Sanchez, former television journalist, in a grand multi-day celebration in Venice, Italy. Reports indicate that the festivities will run for three days—from Tuesday to Thursday this week.
The wedding party will occupy the entire island of San Giorgio Maggiore, located across from the iconic St. Mark’s Square, according to the reports. However, the precise location of the ceremony has not been disclosed.
The high-profile guest list reportedly includes Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, and singer Katy Perry. Guests are also set to celebrate on Bezos’s $500 million superyacht. The yacht will be docked in Venice’s port for the occasion, reports claim.
Also Read: Air India Kanishka Bombing: RCMP Unmasks ‘Mr X,’ But He Died Without Facing Justice
The extravagant wedding has sparked protests among residents and local activists. Protesters argue that the event shows the growing commercialization and exclusion of locals from public spaces.
“He is basically going to treat the whole city as a private ballroom, as a private event area, as if the citizens are not there,” Sky News quoted Alice Bazzoli, an activist with the group No Space for Bezos.
Reports reveal that the event is expected to restrict access to parts of the city, make local travel difficult, and contribute to environmental degradation.
“This is not what Venice needs. This is not what a city that is already suffering from overtourism needs,” said fellow activist Federica Toninelli.
Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The iconic city has long battled with the challenges of mass tourism.
“It’s going to bring money, yes, but we are not going to see any money,” Toninelli added.
Activists argue that events like Bezos’s are concerned about the deeper issues related to affordable housing, declining population in the city’s historic center, and loss of public services.
Protesters from No Space for Bezos are planning several protests during the wedding week. On 12 June, they unfurled a large banner from the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore with Bezos’s name crossed out.
Protests are scheduled for 28 June. The demonstrators plan to block canals—both with boats and their own bodies, in an effort to prevent guests from arriving at a party. Organizers say the protest will be peaceful.
“We want to take back our city that we are seeing constantly being privatized and taken away from us,” Toninelli said.
Global groups have also joined the protests, as activists from Greenpeace and UK-based group Everyone Hates Elon on Monday displayed a large banner in St. Mark’s Square showing Bezos laughing.
The banner read a message, “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”
Also Read: NATO Summit: 5 Key Issues That Could Unify Or Deepen Divides Among The Allies
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
‘This Is An ISIS Attack’: Donald Trump Vows Strong Response After 3 Americans Killed In Syria
Donald Trump: US President Donald Trump has vowed a strong response after 3 Americans were…
From Fame To Financial Crisis: Inside Comedian Sunil Pal’s Career Struggles
Sunil Pal: Comedian Sunil Pal rose to national fame at a time when stand-up comedy…
2 US Army Soldiers, 1 Civilian Interpreter Killed In Suspected Islamic State Attack In Syria
Two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday after a suspected…
