Venice protests mar Jeff Bezos's lavish wedding celebration

In late June 2025, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and journalist Lauren Sanchez tied the knot in Venice, Italy, amidst protests from local residents and environmental activists. The wedding celebration was organized over three days, attracting significant media attention and drawing roughly 200 guests from various sectors including entertainment and business. Despite the festivities promising glamour and economic boosts for local businesses, many Venetians feared that events like this exacerbate the ongoing issue of over-tourism in their historic city. Activism against the wedding included banners displayed in prominent areas, such as the Rialto Bridge, stating 'No space for Bezos.' Activists expressed discontent over the idea that a city could be commodified for the highest bidder's private celebrations, which they believed undermines the city's cultural and historical significance. The protests were also endorsed by the global environmental group Greenpeace, highlighting broader concerns regarding urban tourism and its ecological impact. Local leaders, however, argued that the wedding would not disrupt daily life for residents and would be economically advantageous. The organizers stated their commitment to minimizing any adverse effects on the city and its inhabitants. As the celebrations unfolded, however, they coincided with continued local sentiment against the realities of celebrity events in Venice, maintaining tension between tourism for profit and community sustainability. Consequently, the event sparked an ongoing debate over the balance of economic gain through celebrity engagements against preserving Venice's unique identity and public spaces.