As Venice prepares to host the star-studded wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez, protests are brewing in the historic Italian city. Activist groups have announced plans to demonstrate peacefully, calling attention to the deeper socio-economic issues facing Venice and the increasing commercialization of its heritage.
Protestors Call Out Bezos, Tourism Model
The protests are being led by the “No Space for Bezos” committee. Their goal is to spark a broader public debate about the future that Venetians envision for their city. “We want to spark a citywide conversation. People like Bezos—who represent a future we don’t want and a world we don’t want to live in are not welcome here,” said committee representative Toninelli. She referred to Bezos’ business empire and his close ties with the Trump administration as causes for concern.
Toninelli stressed that the demonstrations would remain entirely peaceful. Their purpose, she added, is to highlight the growing divide between Venice’s affluent visitors and its increasingly marginalized local population. To her, Bezos’ lavish wedding represents more than just a personal celebration. It symbolizes widening inequality and the city’s overdependence on a tourism model that is both fragile and unsustainable.
Political, Local Backlash to Protests Amidst Wedding of Jeff Bezos
Venice’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has expressed strong disapproval of the planned protests, calling them embarrassing. “What other city would organise a committee against the wedding of such an important person?” he asked, adding, “I hope [Bezos] doesn’t have second thoughts.”
Supporters of the mayor’s view argue that such high-profile events bring significant revenue and visibility to Venice. Setrak Tokatzian, head of the St Mark’s shopkeepers association, echoed this sentiment: “This kind of event brings in work and wealth, otherwise all we have left is increasingly low-cost tourism.”
Venice’s Identity Crisis and the Fight for Balance
Activists like Toninelli argue that the issue isn’t tourism itself, but the unchecked exploitation of the city for glamorous events and short-term profit. She stressed the need for a “post-tourism transition” that would prioritize long-term sustainability and local residents over celebrity-centric spectacles.
Venice’s local population has declined drastically—from 175,000 in 1950 to under 49,000 today—as rising rents and the conversion of homes into holiday rentals continue to push residents out. In 2023, the number of tourists surpassed the number of Venetians for the first time. Although the city implemented a day-tripper entrance fee on peak dates last year, critics say the measure has done little to manage tourist flow.
Symbolic Wedding of Jeff Bezos Amid a Historic Debate
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, engaged in 2023, are rumored to be marrying at the 10th Century Church of the Abbey of Misericordia. With about 200 guests expected—including celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and possibly members of the Trump family—the event is drawing international attention. Guests are reportedly staying at Venice’s most exclusive hotels and aboard Bezos’ superyachts, the Koru and Abeona.
The lavish celebration echoes George Clooney’s 2014 wedding in Venice, which passed without similar controversy. But for many Venetians today, the context has changed. The city’s fragile lagoon, its eroding population, and the strain of overtourism have transformed such events from glamorous showcases into flashpoints for public dissent.
