Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, and Lauren Sanchez have arrived in Venice for a lavish wedding, sparking protests from various activist groups. They were greeted at the Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal by a security presence, including two boats. The protests highlight concerns over wealth inequality, with demonstrators asserting that the wedding epitomises the disregard for local needs amidst a boom in mass tourism.
Multiple Venetian organisations, including housing advocates and anti-cruise ship campaigners, have united under the slogan “No Space for Bezos.” Activists have staged smaller protests across the city, displaying banners at iconic sites. Notably, on Monday, Greenpeace and a protest group known as “Everyone Hates Elon” unfurled a banner in St Mark’s Square to criticise tax breaks afforded to billionaires.
In an eye-catching move, activists sent a float down the Grand Canal featuring a mannequin of Bezos clutching an Amazon box, intended to critique unchecked wealth and media influence. Despite the mounting protests, Bezos’ team has not commented on these actions.
Local activists had initially planned to disrupt guest access to the wedding venue by blocking canals, but shifted their strategy, claiming victory by pushing the venue to the Arsenale, which is considered more secure. They intend to hold a festive protest with music on Saturday, aiming to raise awareness of issues facing Venice.
Among the high-profile guests expected to attend are celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, and Leonardo DiCaprio. The setting, Venice, is notable for its romantic canals and has hosted numerous high-profile weddings in the past. However, local sentiment is mixed; some previous celebrity weddings have received public affection, unlike Bezos, who has a more polarising public profile due to his wealth and political associations.
Critics of the wedding point to Amazon’s labour practices, ongoing tax issues, and Bezos’ political connections as critical points of contention. Additionally, activists argue that the lavish event highlights systemic governance failures where tourism is prioritised over local resident needs, exemplified by ineffectual initiatives like the day-tripper tax and lack of investment in affordable housing.
Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, defended the event as an honour for the city, denying it would cause disruptions. He expressed a desire to meet Bezos during his visit. Meanwhile, a local environmental group has noted that Bezos’ Earth Fund has made a significant donation to support their work on Venice’s environmental strategies, further complicating the narrative around the wedding and its local implications.