“Yes, yes, Bezos no”: Hundreds of people protest against the third and final day of billionaire Venice’s wedding
Hundreds of protesters marched on Venice’s Central Street on Saturday to the third and final day amid a crowded gathering of celebrities and tired residents.
On Friday, the world’s fourth richest man and Lauren Sanchez married about 200 celebrity guests on the secluded island of San Giorgio Maggiore at a private ceremony.
However, the wedding angered many Venetians, with some activists protesting the exploitation of the city by billionaire Bezos, while ordinary residents are threatened by excessive tourism, high housing costs and constant climate-induced flooding.
As the newlyweds prepared for their last party on Saturday night, hundreds of Venetians and protesters from all over Italy filled colorful banners on the small streets of Venice, “kisses Yes, yes, bezos no” and “no Bezos, no war”.
The demonstrations contrast with the expensive wedding mogul, which critics see as an offense to the fragile environment of the lagoon city and its citizens, flooded with a large number of tourists.
“We are here to continue to undermine the plans of these wealthy people who accumulate money by using many others, and the situation in the city remains unstable,” said Martina Vergnano, one of the protesters.
Protest organizers claimed victory after Saturday’s wedding, which was originally held in central Venice, but they said they later moved to the former medieval shipyard Arsenai.
Corila, the Venetian Environmental Research Association, said Bezos donated 1 million euros ($1.6 million in CDN) to three environmental research organizations working to protect Venice.
But many protesters exploded the move to appease angry residents.
“We wanted a free Venice, ultimately dedicated to its citizens. These donations were just a pain and were designed to clear Bezos’ conscience,” said Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activist.
The details of Friday night’s exclusive wedding were a tight secret until the new bride, now Sanchez Bezos, posted a photo on Instagram when she herself was wearing a white dress, standing with Bezos in a tuxedo.
Athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders gather in a luxury rave testament to the couple’s love for their extraordinary wealth.
A-level celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Leonardo DiCaprio held their wedding to Amazon billionaires Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice. The massive incident also attracted protesters, angry at their claims that Bezos had income inequality.
The star-studded guest list includes Oprah Winfrey and NFL Big Tom Brady, along with Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates and top socialites, including Kardashian-Jenner Clan.
Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and their three children also joined the celebration.
The bride and groom live in the Venice Hotel in Oman on the Grand Canal, and Bezos poses for the photo, and Sanchez Bezos blows the media.
“The earth is burning, but don’t worry, this is a list of 27 gowns by Lauren Sanchez,” a protest slogan, referring to the bride’s reported wedding weekend wardrobe. It features a mermaid-lined wedding dress from Dolce & Gabbana, as well as other Dolce Vita-inspired look from Italian designers including Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.
The city government strongly defended the wedding because it conformed to Venetian traditions as an open city that welcomed the pope, emperor and ordinary tourists for centuries.
