As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez prepare to exchange vows in Venice, Italy, their high-profile wedding is becoming a lightning rod for dissent rather than a cause for celebration. While the world’s rich and famous will descend soon for the wedding, the Venetians are voicing their concerns on what such a star-studded wedding means for Venice.
‘IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX’
On Monday, June 23, Piazza San Marco—Venice’s most iconic square—was overtaken by protesters who unfurled a giant banner featuring Jeff Bezos’ face, reading: “IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX.” The demonstration, led by Greenpeace and joined by British activist group Everyone Hates Elon, was timed to disrupt the lead-up to the Bezos-Sánchez nuptials, scheduled between June 24 and June 26.
The protest is not just about one lavish wedding; rather it is a broader critique of wealth inequality , tax avoidance , and the impact of luxury tourism on fragile historic cities like Venice.
“The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system,” protester Simona Abbate told Reuters. “We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure.”
Greenpeace’s presence and the involvement of Everyone Hates Elon—known for launching anti-Bezos tax ads in London—underscore the international scale of the frustration. Many demonstrators invoked the slogan “No Space for Bezos,” a jab at the Amazon founder’s aerospace ambitions, complete with a satirical rocket-shaped logo.
A billionaire wedding in a city battling over tourism and unpaid taxes
This anger amongst people has been intensified by Amazon’s recent legal wins and ongoing tax controversies. As per reports, in 2023, Amazon avoided paying €250 million in back taxes after a victory in a legal battle with the European Commission.
Further as per an AFP report from February 2025, Italian prosecutors are investigating Amazon and three of its executives over alleged tax evasion. With penalties, the total could reach €3 billion.
Despite the backlash, the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, defended the couple’s right to celebrate in the city. “What other city would organize a committee against the wedding of such an important person?” he told the BBC, calling the protesters a small minority and insisting the city is “extremely proud” to host the event.
Wedding planners Lanza & Baucina Limited also responded to the criticism, telling Page Six that Bezos and Sánchez had “personally instructed” them to minimize disruptions to Venice. “From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city, the respect for its residents and institutions and the overwhelming employment of locals in the crafting of the events,” the firm said.
Still, skepticism remains high. According to AP, the protests are drawing support from university students, affordable housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners, and international organizations—united by a common demand for economic justice and local autonomy. And as the wedding approaches, protesters say their actions will only intensify.
‘IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX’
On Monday, June 23, Piazza San Marco—Venice’s most iconic square—was overtaken by protesters who unfurled a giant banner featuring Jeff Bezos’ face, reading: “IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX.” The demonstration, led by Greenpeace and joined by British activist group Everyone Hates Elon, was timed to disrupt the lead-up to the Bezos-Sánchez nuptials, scheduled between June 24 and June 26.
The protest is not just about one lavish wedding; rather it is a broader critique of wealth inequality , tax avoidance , and the impact of luxury tourism on fragile historic cities like Venice.
“The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system,” protester Simona Abbate told Reuters. “We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure.”
Greenpeace’s presence and the involvement of Everyone Hates Elon—known for launching anti-Bezos tax ads in London—underscore the international scale of the frustration. Many demonstrators invoked the slogan “No Space for Bezos,” a jab at the Amazon founder’s aerospace ambitions, complete with a satirical rocket-shaped logo.
A billionaire wedding in a city battling over tourism and unpaid taxes
This anger amongst people has been intensified by Amazon’s recent legal wins and ongoing tax controversies. As per reports, in 2023, Amazon avoided paying €250 million in back taxes after a victory in a legal battle with the European Commission.
Further as per an AFP report from February 2025, Italian prosecutors are investigating Amazon and three of its executives over alleged tax evasion. With penalties, the total could reach €3 billion.
Despite the backlash, the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, defended the couple’s right to celebrate in the city. “What other city would organize a committee against the wedding of such an important person?” he told the BBC, calling the protesters a small minority and insisting the city is “extremely proud” to host the event.
Wedding planners Lanza & Baucina Limited also responded to the criticism, telling Page Six that Bezos and Sánchez had “personally instructed” them to minimize disruptions to Venice. “From the outset, instructions from our client and our own guiding principles were abundantly clear: the minimizing of any disruption to the city, the respect for its residents and institutions and the overwhelming employment of locals in the crafting of the events,” the firm said.
Still, skepticism remains high. According to AP, the protests are drawing support from university students, affordable housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners, and international organizations—united by a common demand for economic justice and local autonomy. And as the wedding approaches, protesters say their actions will only intensify.
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