VeniceTo protest billionaire Jeff Bezos, his wife, and their much-anticipated wedding extravaganza, which entered its third and final day amid celebrity-filled parties and the screams of weary locals, hundreds of demonstrators marched through the heart of Venice on Saturday.
On the remote island of San Giorgio, the fourth-richest man in the world and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, exchanged vows in a private ceremony on Friday in front of about 200 celebrities.
However, the wedding infuriated a lot of Venetians, as several environmentalists protested that the billionaire Bezos was exploiting the city, while regular citizens faced overtourism, exorbitant housing costs, and the ongoing threat of flooding brought on by climate change.
Hundreds of Venetians and protesters from all over Italy crowded Venice’s narrow streets with colorful banners that said “Kissings” as the newlyweds got ready for the last party on Saturday night. Yes, Bezos no, and war would not exist without Bezos. There are about 50,000 people living in Venice.
Overwhelmed by crowds of tourists, the demonstration stood in stark contrast to the lavish wedding celebration, which opponents viewed as an insult to the lagoon city’s delicate ecosystem and its residents.
According to one of the protesters, Martina Vergnano, “We are here to continue ruining the plans of these rich people who accumulate money by exploiting many other people while the conditions of this city remain precarious.”
The protest organizers asserted that Saturday’s gathering had to be moved from its original scheduled venue to the Arsenale, a former medieval shipyard.
According to Corila, the Venetian environmental research association, Bezos gave one million euros ($1.17 million) each to three environmental research groups that defend Venice.
However, a number of demonstrators denounced the action as an obvious attempt to placate irate locals.
We desire a free Venice that is at last devoted to its people. Venetian activist Flavio Cogo, who participated in Saturday’s demonstration, claimed that the donations were merely an attempt to ease Bezos’ suffering.
Before Sanchez Bezos shared a picture of herself on Instagram, grinning in a white gown, standing next to Bezos in a tuxedo, the specifics of the intimate wedding ceremony on Friday night were kept under wraps.
The extravagant celebration, which was as much a reflection of the couple’s love as their enormous wealth, brought together athletes, celebrities, influencers, and business executives.
Oprah Winfrey, NFL legend Tom Brady, Hollywood actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Orlando Bloom, computer entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates, and prominent socialites including the Kardashian-Jenner clan were among the star-studded guests.
The festivities were also attended by Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, and their three kids.
The couple slept at the Aman Venice hotel on the Grand Canal, where Sanchez Bezos blew kisses to the media and Bezos posed for pictures.
This list of 27 outfits by Lauren S. Nchez, which is a reference to the bride’s purported wedding weekend attire, is a protest statement that reads, “The planet is burning, but don’t worry.” It included Dolce & Gabbana’s mermaid-lined bridal gown along with other Dolce Vita-inspired styles by Italian designers Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.
The wedding has been vigorously defended by the city government as being in line with Venice’s centuries-old tradition as an open city that has welcomed popes, emperors, and common tourists.
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From Rome, Zampano reported. Niccol Lupone, a journalist for the Associated Press in Venice, provided assistance for this report.
