Venice, a city famed for its timeless beauty, has become the stage for a modern conflict as the extravagant three-day wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez ignites fierce local protests. The lavish celebration has transformed a private affair into a public battle over the city’s soul and the commercialization of its priceless cultural heritage.
With a budget reportedly ranging from $10 million to $48 million, the scale of the event has fueled residents’ anger. According to local media, the wedding plans involved a virtual ‘takeover’ of the city’s resources, from water taxis and gondolas to entire luxury hotels booked out for the 200 celebrity guests. Venetians accuse their city’s authorities of effectively ‘renting out’ the world heritage site, allowing it to become a mere ‘backdrop for oligarchs’ without public consent.
Activists have made their dissent visible, draping banners with slogans like “No room for Bezos!” across the city’s iconic canals and streets. Their protest taps into deeper global frustrations about economic disparity, encapsulated in a powerful message aimed at the billionaire: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more taxes.” The call highlights a growing demand for the super-rich to contribute more to the societies they impact.
In a clear victory for public opinion, the backlash forced the couple to make significant changes to their plans. The main ceremony was relocated from the historic Cannaregio district to the more secluded Arsenale, a former shipyard complex. The event remains enveloped in a tight security bubble, with reports of former U.S. Marines being hired for protection, creating a stark contrast between the exclusive celebration and the public discontent unfolding just outside its perimeter.