Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s lavish wedding celebration in Venice has ignited passionate protests against the Amazon founder’s wealth and influence. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of the historic Italian city, carrying banners with messages like “Eat the Rich” and “Kisses Yes, Bezos No,” as they voiced concerns over overtourism, rising living costs, and environmental impact. How does this protest affect other wealthy individuals from visiting Venice?
Venetians Protest Billionaire’s Wedding Celebration
Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Venice’s narrow streets and iconic bridges to protest Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s extravagant wedding celebration. The protesters, organized by the “No place for Bezos” group, carried banners with messages like “Kisses Yes, Bezos No” and “No Bezos, No War” while chanting “Bezos, out of the lagoon” in the sweltering summer heat.
The protesters’ main grievances centered around overtourism, rising costs for locals, and environmental concerns they believe are exacerbated by ultra-wealthy visitors like Bezos. Activist Alice Bazzoli articulated the sentiment behind the demonstration, stating: “We are here against what Bezos represents, his model, the Amazon model, based on exploiting people and land.”
NEW: Activists unveiled a giant banner at the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy ahead of Jeff Bezos’ wedding reading “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax” (Video: Everyone Hates Elon) pic.twitter.com/mdg9Ma0vRJ
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) June 23, 2025
Star-Studded Celebration Amid Local Discontent
The wedding ceremony took place on the San Giorgio Maggiore island with approximately 200 celebrity guests in attendance. The guest list included notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump, and Bill Gates, culminating a week of yacht parties and VIP events throughout Venice.
Demonstrators claimed their protests successfully forced a last-minute venue change for one of the wedding events. The activists made their presence known by displaying a large banner and lighting flares on the historic Rialto Bridge, creating a visual contrast to the luxury and opulence of the wedding festivities.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos flashes a billion-dollar smile as he departs his Venice hotel en route to his wedding to Lauren Sanchez! 🤵♂️📸 pic.twitter.com/y7PFGfIzi4
— ExtraTV (@extratv) June 27, 2025
Donations Dismissed as Insufficient Gesture
In an apparent attempt to address local concerns, Bezos donated €1 million each to three Venetian environmental organizations. However, protesters and activists dismissed these contributions as inadequate, with local activist Flavio Cogo stating: “Those donations are just a misery and only aimed at clearing Bezos’ conscience.”
The city administration defended hosting the high-profile wedding, citing Venice’s long tradition of welcoming prominent visitors. Student Matteo Battistuta offered a different perspective, emphasizing: “Venice is fighting back, it’s not a dead city, it acts in its own interest before tourism’s,” reflecting the growing tension between preserving Venice’s cultural heritage and catering to wealthy tourists.
The demonstrations remained peaceful despite the passionate messaging and symbolic actions against what many locals view as excessive wealth disparity. The protest highlighted broader concerns about the relationship between billionaires and the communities impacted by their presence, with activists using the high-profile wedding as an opportunity to spark discussion about economic inequality and environmental responsibility.