Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Lauren Sánchez’s opulent wedding festivities in Venice this weekend have ignited widespread backlash from activist groups accusing the billionaire couple of deepening economic divides and disrespecting the city’s residents.
A coalition of roughly a dozen Venetian organisations-including social housing advocates, university groups, and campaigners against cruise ships-have rallied together to oppose the multi-day wedding celebration. Under the slogan 'No Space for Bezos,' a play on Sánchez’s recent journey to space, demonstrators staged symbolic protests throughout Venice.
Earlier this week, Greenpeace and the UK group 'Everyone Hates Elon', known for smashing Teslas in protest against Elon Musk- joined forces to hang a massive banner in St. Mark’s Square that read:
“IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX.”
The banner, which depicted Bezos’s face prominently, was swiftly removed by police.
Plans to block wedding access evolve into peaceful march
Initially, activists announced their intention to disrupt water access by blocking canals to prevent guests’ arrival. However, organizers later pivoted to a march starting from Venice’s main train station, claiming their pressure tactics had already prompted the wedding planners to relocate events to the Arsenale-an industrial area on the edge of the city that is easier to secure and less disruptive to daily life.
Federica Toninello of the Social Housing Assembly emphasised that the demonstration would remain peaceful:
“It will be strong and decisive, but also joyful-like a party with music to show the Venice we envision,” she said.
Despite criticism, the wedding is drawing an A-list roster of approximately 200 attendees, including Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ivanka Trump, and Katy Perry. The celebration comes more than a year after Bezos proposed to Sánchez during a romantic yacht trip in 2023.
Mounting concerns about housing and inequality
Beyond Bezos’s wealth, many Venetians see the wedding as a symptom of deeper issues-namely, the city’s overreliance on luxury tourism and chronic neglect of affordable housing and essential services. Critics have slammed policies like the new day-tripper tax as cosmetic measures that fail to address the real needs of Venice’s dwindling population.
City officials, however, defended the event. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called it an 'honor' for the city and insisted it would not interfere with residents’ routines. “Venice once again proves it is a global stage,” Brugnaro said, adding that he looked forward to meeting Bezos personally.
