Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s upcoming wedding in Venice has sparked outrage, as locals cite tourism disruption and environmental concerns, accusing the Amazon founder of “holding their home hostage.”
The wedding, scheduled for June 24 on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, is expected to disrupt the city. The couple has reportedly booked five luxury hotels and all the water taxis for the event, according to the Daily Mail.
A-list celebrities, politicians, and business leaders are expected to attend, raising concerns about the event’s impact on the city, with locals bracing for beefed-up security, street closures, and heightened police presence as Venice enters its peak tourist season. The event’s environmental impact, especially with private jets and high carbon emissions, has further inflamed tensions.
Francesca, a local tour guide, told The Guardian, “It’s going to be a great big nuisance. We are exasperated by a whole series of problems related to overtourism and this is the umpteenth thing foisted on the city that we have to suffer.”
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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez. Photo courtesy of Sánchez’s Instagram |
The Laboratorio Occupato Morion, a political group, has announced plans to protest, accusing the billionaire of turning Venice into “another playground for the rich.” In a flyer circulating online, Bezos is depicted atop a rocket with the slogan, “No space for Bezos, No space for oligarchs!”
The flyer continues, “From the Security Decree, to the right to work and home, to the refusal of a city being shut down and mercified to celebrate the wedding of one of the most influential, richest – and most dangerous – men on the planet.”
Alice Bazzoli, a spokesperson for the group, emphasized that the protest is only the beginning, with a larger demonstration planned for the wedding day. “Bezos embodies what this city and global movements have been fighting against for decades – a financial and technological oligarchy that exploits workers, the planet, and controls entire territories and populations,” she said.
Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, who has faced corruption allegations, confirmed the wedding would take place in the city. He added, “We are mutually working and supporting the organizers, to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city.” However, critics like Bazzoli believe Brugnaro has sold out the city to accommodate the billionaire’s event and his private interests.
Despite the backlash, some locals, like tour guide Giusi Giudice, argue that large events like this are a normal part of Venice’s economy. “Are they just envious of the rich?” she asked.
An activist from Venezia Non è Disneyland (Venice Isn’t Disneyland), a group set up to sensitise visitors to the city, noted that their social media was filled with comments in response to the wedding. “The city hosted Pope Francis [last year]. Therefore I think we can tolerate this kind of wedding too,” they said.
Bezos, 61, and Sanchez’s relationship has attracted attention since 2019, when Bezos announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott. Sanchez, 65, who has two children with her ex-husband, Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, also finalized her divorce before becoming engaged to Bezos.
Bezos is reportedly finalizing a lengthy prenuptial agreement to safeguard his US$220 billion fortune ahead of wedding to fiancée Sánchez.