The idea that billionaires, especially the world’s second-richest man, live a life free of disappointment has just been proven wrong. In fact, it’s because of his billionaire status that Jeff Bezos, just a week away from tying the knot with fiancée Lauren Sánchez, has been forced to postpone his much-anticipated Venetian wedding due to growing protests in the city.
Venice hasn’t just been commenting on the affair from afar, it’s been involved from the start, with everything from opinions to official government scrutiny. The city politicians reportedly expected the Amazon founder to make a significant donation toward its restoration. Rumors swirled that Bezos was disrupting the beloved City of Canals, turning it into his personal playground. Now, that tension has boiled over into peaceful protests, resulting in the delay of the couple’s lavish nuptials. Originally scheduled between June 24 and 26, Vanity Fair reports that the wedding has been pushed by a few days, and celebrations are now likely to run from June 26 to 28.
The delay has been triggered by the activist group “No Space for Bezos,” which has led citywide protests against the billionaire’s presence. “We will block the canals. We will make sure to send the wedding cake sideways. We will attack and throw ourselves into the canal if necessary,” declared the group, unapologetically dramatic in their stance. If Bezos couldn’t turn Venice into his private Disneyland, the protesters certainly have turned it into a stage for their cause. Their slogan has been plastered across the city, with the most shocking banner reading “Bezos is not welcome in Venice,” boldly hung on the bell tower of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Not even his $500 million, 416-foot superyacht Koru was spared. The mere announcement of five megayachts docking in Venice and exclusive parties planned across the Venetian home of designer Diane von Fürstenberg , a friend of the couple, and landmarks like the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the Lido, and the Madonna dell’Orto have been criticized as violations of the city’s heritage and public spaces. “We’re not against the wedding. We’re against the arrogance of this ‘techno-feudal lord’ acting like he owns the place,” said Tommaso Cacciari, a spokesperson for the group.
Arrogance or not, it’s still a billionaire wedding, so it’s bound to be extravagant. It’s unfortunate that the couple had to reschedule a celebration meant to happen once, or maybe twice, in a lifetime. Especially when it comes laced with gestures of generosity. Officials like Venice’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Veneto Region President Luca Zaia have condemned the protests and backed the event.
Still, “No Space for Bezos” has announced another “colorful and peaceful” demonstration set for June 28, which may once again clash with the final day of festivities. But it’s unlikely that Lauren Sánchez will even notice, after all, the soon-to-be Mrs. Bezos is planning 28 dress changes across the three-day celebration that will host 250 guests.
Jeff Bezos is no stranger to protests
The American billionaire faced backlash over his megayacht Koru, the largest sailing yacht in the world, when reports surfaced that a historic Dutch bridge might be dismantled to allow it passage through the country’s canals. As expected, the suggestion sparked fury among locals over the potential removal of the iconic Koningshavenbrug in Rotterdam, better known as De Hef, a structure that even survived World War II bombings. More than 3,900 people signed up for a Facebook event urging residents to pelt Bezos’s yacht with rotten eggs. In the end, Koru was quietly transported without its towering masts, avoiding any need to dismantle the beloved bridge.
