Venice Erupts in Protest as Bezos-Sanchez Wedding Nears: Activists Demand Tax Fairness Amidst Extravagance
Venice Erupts in Protest as Bezos-Sanchez Wedding Nears: Activists Demand Tax Fairness Amidst Extravagance
Venice is currently a city divided, bracing for the highly anticipated and equally contentious nuptials of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former reporter Lauren Sanchez. As celebrity guests like Kim Kardashian and Orlando Bloom begin to arrive, the multi-million dollar affair is facing significant opposition from activist groups who have converged on the historic city.
On Monday, June 23, 2025, the serene backdrop of St. Mark’s Square was disrupted as protestors from Greenpeace and the UK-based group Everyone Hates Elon (EHE) unfurled a massive banner. The striking message, “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,” encapsulated their core grievance. In a joint statement, the groups alleged that Bezos, the world’s second-richest man, reportedly pays a mere 1.1% true tax rate, contrasting sharply with the estimated $48 million (£35 million) price tag of his three-day wedding festivities.
The lavish celebrations, set to take place between June 26 and June 28, are expected to commandeer the entire island of San Giorgio, directly opposite St. Mark’s Square. Reports from Italian media suggest that luxury hotels across the city have been fully booked by the wedding party, along with numerous water taxis, underscoring the immense scale of the event.
Beyond the tax dispute, the extravagance has ignited fury among climate activists and local groups concerned about the escalating issue of overtourism in Venice. The protest group ‘No Space for Bezos’ is actively mobilizing locals, urging them to block streets and waterways near the rumored wedding venue. Federica Toninelli, an activist affiliated with the group, voiced her frustration to the BBC, stating, “Venice is being treated like a showcase, a stage… And this wedding is the symbol of the exploitation of the city by outsiders… Venice is now just an asset.” The collective includes activists campaigning for more housing and members of the anti-cruise ship committee, highlighting broader systemic concerns.
However, the event has found support among local authorities and some business owners. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia have welcomed the celebrations, estimating they will inject €20-30 million (£17-25 million) into local businesses. Zaia, speaking to Corriere della Sera, defended the city’s capacity to host such events, referencing past celebrity weddings like those of George Clooney and Elton John in Italy. Setrak Tokatzian, head of the association of St Mark’s shopkeepers, also expressed concern that the protests themselves could harm the city, arguing that large events “bring in work and wealth, otherwise all we have left is increasingly low-cost tourism.”
The controversy surrounding the wedding follows earlier criticism directed at Lauren Sanchez, who drew environmental groups’ ire in April after participating in an all-female space flight orchestrated by Bezos-owned Blue Origin Enterprises.
As the countdown to the wedding continues, Venice remains a focal point for a clash between extreme wealth and calls for social and environmental responsibility, with protestors vowing to disrupt the highly anticipated affair.
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