Greenpeace Joins Protests Against Jeff Bezos’ Lavish Venice Wedding.
As billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez prepare to tie the knot in a star-studded celebration in Venice, global environmental group Greenpeace has joined a chorus of protesters denouncing the extravagant event as a symbol of inequality and environmental insensitivity.
Dubbed the “wedding of the century,” the event is expected to host around 200 high-profile guests, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and celebrities from across the worlds of fashion, business, and film. But the festivities are drawing criticism from local Venetians and activists, who see it as the latest example of how the historic city is being commodified for the ultra-rich.
Activists Target “Privatization” of Venice
On Monday, Greenpeace Italy and UK-based protest group Everyone Hates Elon (a nod to fellow billionaire Elon Musk) staged a demonstration in St. Mark’s Square—one of Venice’s most iconic and visited locations. They unfurled a large banner showing a laughing Bezos alongside the message:
“If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”
Local police quickly intervened, checking IDs and asking the group to roll up their display. Speaking to Reuters, protester Simona Abbate said:
“The problem is not the wedding. The problem is the system. One billionaire shouldn’t be able to rent out an entire city for personal pleasure.”
Locals Push Back Against Over-Tourism
Venetians have long expressed concern about mass tourism, gentrification, and a declining local population. While many residents welcome tourism as a source of income, others say the city needs investment in public housing, infrastructure, and essential services—not luxury events.
Earlier in June, anti-Bezos banners were hung from landmarks like St. Mark’s bell tower and the Rialto Bridge, and some locals even called for peaceful blockades of the wedding venues.
City Officials Defend the Wedding
Venice’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Veneto Governor Luca Zaia have defended the wedding, citing potential economic benefits to local businesses, including water taxis, gondoliers, and hospitality services.
Zaia told reporters that the celebrations may cost between €20–30 million ($23–34 million), a portion of which will reportedly benefit local communities. According to Corriere della Sera and ANSA, Bezos will donate €1 million to Corila, a research group studying the Venice lagoon ecosystem.
Despite the criticism, the wedding is expected to unfold over three days—likely June 26 to 28—though exact dates and venues remain under wraps for security and privacy reasons.
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