Protesters in Venice are celebrating what they call a major victory after forcing Jeff Bezos to relocate part of his high-profile wedding festivities away from the city centre.
The billionaire’s star-studded three-day celebration, culminating in an event originally planned at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, will now take place at the Arsenale, a move activists claim as proof of grassroots power against “elite excess”.
Local campaigners, climate activists, and groups opposing Bezos’ political affiliations denounced the extravagance amid Venice’s ongoing over-tourism and environmental struggles.
While officials defend the event’s economic benefit, critics say it reflects a growing trend of turning Venice into a playground for the ultra-rich, sidelining ordinary citizens.
A massive banner protesting Jeff Bezos' wedding took over Venice's central square ahead of his three-day wedding. pic.twitter.com/yHLXZMPHIr
— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) June 23, 2025
