Venetians Rally Against Bezos's Extravagant Wedding Plans

The planned wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez has sparked outrage among Venice's residents, prompting organized protests to reclaim the city's identity amid concerns over tourism's impact.

In the picturesque city of Venice, the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez is stirring significant unrest among locals. Scheduled for late June, the event is expected to attract hundreds of high-profile guests, which has raised alarms among residents already grappling with the challenges of overtourism.

On a recent Friday evening, various citizen groups convened near the iconic Rialto Bridge to voice their discontent. Protest organizer Federica Toninello announced plans for a series of demonstrations on the days of the wedding, including tactics to block access to key locations. "Bezos will never get to the Misericordia," she declared, referencing a rumored venue for the festivities, a former charity now transformed into an event space.

Under a banner emblazoned with "No Space [an image of a spaceship] For Bezos," protestors expressed outrage over the impact of wealthy tourists on the city's housing market, stating that the pressure has made it increasingly unaffordable for ordinary Venetians. "We must block Bezos and reclaim our city from becoming a tourist playground," Toninello urged the crowd of around 300 supporters.

Amid peak tourist season, Venice is already feeling the strain of massive influxes of visitors, prompting measures like controversial weekend entry fees. With concerns growing that the wedding’s logistics and security for distinguished guests may further disrupt the everyday lives of the dwindling local population, Venetians are preparing to stand firm against the looming extravagance.

As the wedding date approaches, it remains to be seen whether ordinary residents can reclaim their city’s integrity in the face of celebrity-level opulence.