‘Venice can be sold to the highest bidder’: Furious locals speak out ahead of Jeff Bezos’ billionaire fantasy wedding to Lauren Sanchez
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Angry Venice locals protest ahead of Jeff Bezos wedding party
- Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sanchez are set to hold their wedding in Venice from June 24-26, an event expected to be a lavish display of wealth.
- Local Venetians are protesting the high-profile wedding, viewing it as another instance of overtourism and a symbol of the city being exploited by wealthy visitors.
- Demonstrators, including Marta Sottoriva, hung a No Space for Bezos banner on the Rialto bridge, arguing the event primarily benefits luxury businesses rather than the broader local economy.
- The wedding is estimated to cost millions, with significant bookings of luxury hotels and water taxis, though city officials and some locals downplay its overall impact on Venice's daily life.
- Protesters plan further big, colorful, non-violent demonstrations during the three-day event to speak out against a system that allows ultra-rich individuals to buy a city.