Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding in Venice sparks local fury and protests, here's why
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his 55-year-old former TV journalist fiancée Lauren Sanchez will reportedly tie the knot in a star-studded event in Venice, Italy, next week. However, the extravagant nuptials are facing some snags, owing to protests from locals about the possible impact on tourism because of this gala event.
In what seems to be the "wedding of the year," some trouble has flared up, as Venice locals are getting concerned about possible disruptions in tourism in the city due to the event. Some locals from the area have also staged early protests, along with posting banners against this gala event and Bezos near key landmarks in Venice. During the celebrations, there are more protests expected, as per Fox News.
Meanwhile, locals gathered in protest throughout the week, some holding signs that read 'No space for Bezos', with some even accusing city officials of favouring billionaires over local residents.
Protester Federica Toninello was quoted as saying, 'We want to send a very clear message: The ones who should be ashamed are them. They are the people who have destroyed this city," according to a previous Mint report.
The Bezos-Sanchez pair had announced their engagement back in May 2023 after Bezos proposed to Sanchez with a 30-carat pink diamond ring. The ring was reportedly worth something between 3-5 million dollars. In March this year, the city of Venice had announced that it is hosting the wedding of the couple, with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro at the time saying, 'Venice is mutually working and supporting the organizers to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,' according to Fox.
The next step of their relationship will reportedly be observed next week, and even though the proceedings have been kept mostly a secret, Sanchez has shared some glimpses of the upcoming event.
"I'm very excited about it, thinking about the dress. I have to say, I do have a Pinterest. I'm just like every other bride," Sanchez was quoted as revealing, according to a Fox News report. Meanwhile, Bezos has stated that he has taken a complete backstep in terms of the wedding planning.
According to a Vogue report from 2023, he denied his involvement whatsoever in wedding planning. "Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?" Bezos was quoted as saying.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez's Venice wedding: Star-studded guest list, luxury venues, and menu
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are all set to marry in a three-day celebration in Venice, Italy, from June 24 to 26. However, festivities and events are expected to span until June 29, according to sources. The high-profile nuptials are said to involve multiple events hosted across Venice, with the central wedding ceremony taking place aboard Bezos' luxury yacht, Koru, worth a reported $500 million. The central wedding ceremony will most likely be held on Jeff Bezos' newest yacht, Koru. The island of San Giorgio Maggiore, directly across from Venice's iconic St Mark's Square, has reportedly been booked out entirely for the affair, making it off-limits to visitors for nearly a week. Wedding organisers have secured 30 out of 280 water taxis available in Venice, and several top-tier hotels will host guests throughout the celebration. Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, which Jeff has rented for the nuptials. Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, reportedly met in the mid-2010s but kept their relationship private for some time. In early 2019, they went public shortly after Sanchez's separation from Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell and Bezos' high-profile divorce from philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez pose together at the Breakthrough Prize Awards. The couple announced their engagement in May 2023, when Bezos proposed with a jaw-dropping 30-carat pink diamond ring, estimated to be worth between $3 million and $5 million. Lauren Sanchez poses with her pink diamond engagement ring. The wedding is expected to be a glittering affair, with a guest list that reads like a who's who of global celebrity and power. Among the names expected to attend are: * Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner * Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner * Fox Sports presenter Charissa Thompson The couple's children from previous relationships will also be attending. Bezos shares four children with MacKenzie Scott, while Sanchez has three children from previous partners, including NFL star Tony Gonzalez and Patrick Whitesell. Lauren is good friends with Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian, which means they will most likely be gracing the wedding with their presence. (From Left to Right) Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner in picture shared by the former TV reporter. Lauren's brother, Paul Sanchez, compared the upcoming ceremony to the royal wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. 'I think it's gonna be like a Princess Di thing—just huge and fun and just a blast,' he told *TMZ* in March. 'I'm thrilled beyond belief. It's gonna be an amazing event—star-studded and fun.' Despite the opulence, the event has drawn backlash from local Venetians already frustrated by the impact of overtourism. Protesters have begun staging demonstrations, accusing the city of prioritising the ultra-rich over residents. Venetian residents protest again Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' wedding being held at Venice. The protest group 'No Space for Bezos' has taken credit for hanging banners on Venice landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge and the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica. Locals fear further disruption and crowding in the historic city centre. Venetian citizens protesting against Jeff Bezos and Luren Sanchez's wedding. More protests are expected as the wedding dates approach, suggesting the celebrations may not be entirely smooth sailing. Still, for Bezos and Sanchez, the wedding marks the culmination of years of partnership—and the beginning of a new chapter, surrounded by unmatched luxury and star power.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding in Venice sparks local fury and protests, here's why
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his 55-year-old former TV journalist fiancée Lauren Sanchez will reportedly tie the knot in a star-studded event in Venice, Italy, next week. However, the extravagant nuptials are facing some snags, owing to protests from locals about the possible impact on tourism because of this gala event. In what seems to be the "wedding of the year," some trouble has flared up, as Venice locals are getting concerned about possible disruptions in tourism in the city due to the event. Some locals from the area have also staged early protests, along with posting banners against this gala event and Bezos near key landmarks in Venice. During the celebrations, there are more protests expected, as per Fox News. Meanwhile, locals gathered in protest throughout the week, some holding signs that read 'No space for Bezos', with some even accusing city officials of favouring billionaires over local residents. Protester Federica Toninello was quoted as saying, 'We want to send a very clear message: The ones who should be ashamed are them. They are the people who have destroyed this city," according to a previous Mint report. The Bezos-Sanchez pair had announced their engagement back in May 2023 after Bezos proposed to Sanchez with a 30-carat pink diamond ring. The ring was reportedly worth something between 3-5 million dollars. In March this year, the city of Venice had announced that it is hosting the wedding of the couple, with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro at the time saying, 'Venice is mutually working and supporting the organizers to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,' according to Fox. The next step of their relationship will reportedly be observed next week, and even though the proceedings have been kept mostly a secret, Sanchez has shared some glimpses of the upcoming event. "I'm very excited about it, thinking about the dress. I have to say, I do have a Pinterest. I'm just like every other bride," Sanchez was quoted as revealing, according to a Fox News report. Meanwhile, Bezos has stated that he has taken a complete backstep in terms of the wedding planning. According to a Vogue report from 2023, he denied his involvement whatsoever in wedding planning. "Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?" Bezos was quoted as saying.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Venice Divided Ahead Of Jeff Bezos-Laura Sanchez's 'Wedding Of The Century'
ROME: Venice is divided ahead of next week's celebrity wedding of US tech-tycoon Jeff Bezos and Laura Sanchez, with some looking forward to the glitz and glamour, while others fear it will turn the scenic city of gondolas and palazzi into an amusement park. Many details of the wedding are still under wraps - including the precise day it will happen - but it is certain that scores of stars from film, fashion and business will arrive to see Bezos tie the knot - provided they can get past the protesters. One group has plastered banners on the city's famous Rialto Bridge reading "No space for Bezos!" and threatened peaceful blockades, complaining that the medieval and Renaissance city needs public services and housing, not celebrities and over-tourism. "Bezos arrogantly believes he can take over the city and turn it into his own private party venue," said Tommaso Cacciari, a leading light of the "No space for Bezos" campaign. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia, on the other hand, argue that the wedding will bring an economic windfall to local businesses, including the motor boats and gondolas that operate its myriad canals. Eleven years ago actor George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Venice, turning the city into Hollywood on the Adriatic with a weekend of lavish celebrations. Then, locals and tourists alike were excited to witness a memorable moment in the city's long history of hosting stars for its film festival, the world's oldest. Bezos, 61, the founder of e-commerce giant Amazon and the world's third-richest man, got engaged to journalist Sanchez, 55, in 2023, four years after the collapse of his 25-year marriage to Mackenzie Scott. After a swirl of media speculation about the venue of what has been dubbed "the wedding of the century" Brugnaro confirmed in March that it would take place in Venice, which last year began charging tourists a fee to enter the city. The date is expected to be some time between June 23-28 in the midst of three days of stylish celebrations. In the face of early protests from residents who feared the arrival of thousands of celebrities and hangers-on, the city issued a statement clarifying that it would involve around 200 guests and would not disrupt Venetians' everyday life. Bezos and Scott had four children together, while Sanchez was previously married to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She also has a son with NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez.
