Bezos marriage ceremony invitations protests in Venice : NPR

VENICE, Italy — A whole bunch of protesters marched by Venice’s central streets on Saturday to say “No” to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-awaited marriage ceremony extravaganza, which reached its third and last day amid celebrity-crowded events and the outcries of drained residents.

On Friday, the world’s fourth-richest man and his bride Lauren Sanchez Bezos tied the knot throughout a personal ceremony with round 200 superstar company on the secluded island of San Giorgio.

The marriage, nevertheless, angered many Venetians, with some activists protesting it as an exploitation of town by the billionaire Bezos, whereas peculiar residents endure from overtourism, excessive housing prices and the fixed menace of climate-induced flooding.

As the 2 newlyweds ready for the ultimate occasion Saturday night, lots of of Venetians and protesters from throughout Italy crammed Venice’s tiny streets with colourful banners studying “Kisses Sure, Bezos No” and “No Bezos, no Battle.” Venice has round 50,000 residents.

The demonstration contrasted with the costly marriage ceremony bonanza, seen by critics as an affront to the lagoon metropolis’s fragile surroundings and its residents, overwhelmed by throngs of vacationers.

“We’re right here to proceed ruining the plans of those wealthy folks, who accumulate cash by exploiting many different folks … whereas the circumstances of this metropolis stay precarious,” stated Martina Vergnano, one of many demonstrators.

The protest organizers claimed that their deliberate protest had pressured the relocation of Saturday’s occasion from a supposed preliminary location to a former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale.

Bezos donated 1 million euros ($1.17 million) every to 3 environmental analysis organizations working to protect Venice, in accordance with Corila, the Venetian environmental analysis affiliation.

However many protesters blasted the transfer as a transparent try to appease offended residents.

“We wish a free Venice, which is lastly devoted to its residents. … These donations are only a distress and solely aimed toward clearing Bezos’ conscience,” stated Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activist who joined Saturday’s protest.

Particulars of the unique marriage ceremony ceremony Friday night time had been a carefully guarded secret, till Sánchez Bezos posted to Instagram a photograph of herself beaming in a white robe as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos.

Athletes, celebrities, influencers and enterprise leaders converged to experience extravagance that was as a lot a testomony to the couple’s love as to their extraordinary wealth.

The star-studded visitor record included Oprah Winfrey and NFL nice Tom Brady, together with Hollywood stars Leonardo Di Caprio and Orlando Bloom, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Invoice Gates and high socialites, together with the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and their three kids additionally joined the celebrations.

The bride and groom stayed on the Aman Venice resort on the Grand Canal, the place Bezos posed for images and Sanchez Bezos blew kisses to the press.

“The planet is burning however don’t be concerned, this is the record of the 27 attire of Lauren Sánchez,” learn one protest slogan, a reference to the bride’s reported marriage ceremony weekend wardrobe. It featured a mermaid-lined marriage ceremony robe by Dolce & Gabbana and different Dolce Vita-inspired appears by Italian designers, together with Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.

Town administration has strongly defended the nuptials as consistent with Venice’s custom as an open metropolis that has welcomed popes, emperors and peculiar guests alike for hundreds of years.