Venice Protests Wedding of Billionaire Jeff Bezos
Venice saw protests erupt just after the lavish wedding of tech mogul Jeff Bezos, with demonstrators voicing concerns over tourism’s impact on their city. This comes amidst debates about balancing the desires of wealthy visitors with the needs of local residents.
Protest on the Rialto Bridge
Protesters displayed a large banner, declaring “No place for Bezos,” and lit flares over the famed Rialto Bridge. Twenty-year-old student Matteo Battistuta stated that the aim was to convey that “Venice is fighting back, it’s not a dead city, it acts in its own interest before tourism’s”.
“We believe Venice can still be a place worth living in,”
—Matteo Battistuta, Student
Bezos, 61, and his new wife, Lauren Sanchez, 55, exchanged vows during a Friday evening ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, opposite St Mark’s Square. Venice is a popular destination, but the city’s tourism industry is now being debated for the environmental issues it can cause, such as the effect of cruise ships.
Celebrity-Filled Festivities
The ceremony concluded a week filled with high-profile events. Guests present included Ivanka Trump, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Tom Brady, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates.
These Venice protests against Bezos reflect broader concerns. Many places face the challenge of striking a balance between preserving local culture and embracing tourism. The city is looking to address how to preserve its historic charm in the future.
