Underlying themes behind uproar over Bezos’ Venice wedding Inequality, Technocracy, and Power

Protesters in Venice are declaring an “enormous victory” after billionaire Jeff Bezos and his celebrity wedding entourage were forced to relocate their venue amid rising public backlash. The Amazon founder’s multi-million dollar wedding to Lauren Sánchez, dubbed by some as the “wedding of the century,” has ignited a wave of protests in the historic city, with demonstrators voicing opposition not to the union itself but to what they see as the increasing privatisation and exploitation of Venice.

Activist groups, including “No Space For Bezos,” have taken to the city’s canals and landmarks to express their outrage over what they say is a clear symbol of wealth inequality.

As widely reported on by multiple media outlets, Greenpeace amplified the protests with a large banner unfurled in the historic St Mark’s Square, reading: “IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX.” The message aimed to spotlight what the group called the “social and climate injustice” of hosting such extravagant events.

According to Greenpeace, Bezos “embodies an economic and social model that is leading us towards collapse.” The organisation accused billionaires of promoting “lifestyles fuelled by the arrogance of a few” that are accelerating environmental destruction.

Initially, local protesters had planned to obstruct canals with boats to prevent wedding guests from accessing the original venue, the Scuola Grande della Misericordia. But plans shifted dramatically after organisers moved the wedding festivities to the Arsenale, a historic shipyard complex located further from the city’s congested centre.

“We are very proud of this! We are nobodies, we have no money, nothing!” said Tommaso Cacciari of No Space For Bezos. “We're just citizens who started organising and we managed to move one of the most powerful people in the world – all the billionaires – out of the city.”

The shift in plans also led activists to cancel a planned visual stunt involving inflatable crocodiles meant to block canal access. Instead, they announced a new initiative: a “no Bezos, no war” march.

“Our protest isn't about the wedding itself – it's about what it represents,” added Simona Abbate, a Greenpeace campaigner. “This isn't just a celebration of two people getting married, it's a display of a lifestyle that's simply unsustainable. The richest live in excess, while others endure the consequences of a climate emergency they didn't create.”

One more consequence of the unrest is that Bezos' luxury superyacht, Koru, and its support vessel, Abeona, have stayed out of Venice entirely. Anchored in the Upper Adriatic Sea between Croatia and Slovenia, the ships—equipped with a helicopter deck and full staff—will not enter the lagoon.

City officials have pushed back strongly against the protests, defending the event as a valuable economic opportunity for Venice.

"These protesters behave as if they own Venice, but they don't," said Simone Venturini, a city councillor for economic development. "No one gets to decide who gets married here."

Venturini dismissed the activist groups as “a tiny minority” not representative of the broader population. “This event involves just 200 carefully selected guests and will bring major economic benefits to the city,” he said, noting that all events are being hosted in privately-owned venues.

By Nazrin Sadigova