Jeff Bezos 'forced to move Venice wedding' as protesters threaten to flood famous canals with inflatable crocodiles
24 June 2025, 16:50
Jeff Bezos was reportedly forced to change one of the venues of his three-day Venice wedding to Lauren Sánchez as protests intensify.
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Locals and activists have condemned the extravaganza for embodying global issues including over-tourism, corporate greed and climate change.
The Amazon founder, 61, has reportedly bowed to some of the pressure over threats to dump inflatable crocodiles in the canals surrounding one of his wedding venues to block guests from arriving.
Leading protestor Tommaso Cacciari claimed the party on the third night will no longer be held at the Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Misericordia, an easily accessible former charity building.
Instead, he said festivities will take place at a building in former shipyard, the Arsenale, where you "cannot approach by foot" and is "much easier to keep people away."
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"Bezos is on the run — this is a crazy victory for a small group of people with no money who went up against one of the richest men on the planet,' Mr Cacciari told The Times.
Locals have accused billionaire Mr Bezos of arrogance for "hijacking" the Italian city with rumours many hotels and water taxis have been booked out for the multi-day celebration.
They have plastered the streets with posters reading: "No space for Bezos."
Activists have also protested Mr Bezos's wedding for perpetuating global issues including climate change as 95 private jets are said to have been enlisted for guests' travel.
On Monday, Greenpeace and a group called Everyone Hates Elon unfurled a huge banner in St Mark's Square which read: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax."
A statement from Everyone Hates Elon said: "As governments talk about hard choices and struggle to fund public services, Jeff Bezos can afford to shut down half a city for days on end just to get married."
Bezos' wedding celebrations appear to already be underway in the Italian city according to paparazzi pictures obtained by the Daily Mail.
He was pictured at an apparent foam party with his wife-to-be Ms Sánchez.
Celebrity guests expected to be in attendance include Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey.
Mr Bezos and Ms Sánchez became engaged in 2023.
They have been dating since 2018 after being introduced two years prior while they were both still married to other people.
LBC has contacted Bezos' representatives for comment.
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