Protesters say Bezos' star-studded Venice wedding highlights growing inequality
VENICE, Italy — This weekend's star-studded Venice wedding of multi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez has galvanized activist groups that are protesting it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots as well as disregard of the city's residents.
About a dozen Venetian organizations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — have united to protest the multi-day event under the banner 'No Space for Bezos,' a play on words also referring to the bride's recent space flight.
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CNN
44 minutes ago
- CNN
Who is Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos' bride-to-be?
She's set to marry Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. But who is the pilot and Emmy Award-winning journalist Lauren Sánchez – and how did she go from local news to the edge of space? Born in New Mexico in 1969 and raised in California, Sánchez studied at El Camino College and later the University of Southern California. According to her alma mater's website, at the time she was known as Wendy Sánchez. She launched her broadcasting career at KTVK-TV in Phoenix, and went on to appear on the 'Extra' news magazine show, co-hosted 'Good Day LA,' and served as the original host of the dancing competition series 'So You Think You Can Dance.' At 40, Sánchez became a licenced helicopter pilot – a pursuit inspired by her father, a flight instructor. In 2016, she founded Black Ops Aviation – the first female-owned aerial film production company. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the company consulted on Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk.' 'I had my job, I had a career, and then I found a calling,' she told the publication. 'I loved entertainment and I loved filming, and so I got to combine all of it.' The 55-year-old also serves as the vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, and is dedicated to 'fighting climate change and the protection of nature, as well as early childhood education, programming, and housing support,' according to the fund's website. In 2025, Sánchez was one of the six female passengers who were launched to the edge of space by Bezos' Blue Origin NS-31 rocket for a brief, 10-minute journey. She 'brought the mission together,' according to Blue Origin, and personally selected her fellow space travelers, who included journalist Gayle King, singer Katy Perry and research scientist and rape survivor Amanda Nguyen. Sánchez also worked with luxury fashion house Monse to design new flight suits for the mission. She said the view from space was not what she expected. 'Earth looked so – it was so quiet,' she said. 'And you look at it, and you're like, 'We're all in this together.'' Sánchez also authored a children's book, 'The Fly Who Flew to Space,' published in English and Spanish in 2024. The book tells a story of a fly named Flynn who travels to space and returns with a newfound commitment to the planet – a narrative Sánchez described to People as 'a metaphor for curiosity and the pursuit of dreams.' She has three children: a son, Nikko, with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez; and son Evan and daughter Ella with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, an entertainment executive. In a 2023 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sánchez said she maintains a close relationship with Gonzalez and his wife, describing them as her 'best friends.' Sánchez and Bezos, 61, went public with their relationship in 2019 after Bezos announced his divorce from his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Scott. The pair got engaged in May 2023. In January, Sánchez accompanied Bezos at US President Donald Trump's second inauguration. During the ceremony, the couple were seated next to Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
CNN
44 minutes ago
- CNN
Who is Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos' bride-to-be?
She's set to marry Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. But who is the pilot and Emmy Award-winning journalist Lauren Sánchez – and how did she go from local news to the edge of space? Born in New Mexico in 1969 and raised in California, Sánchez studied at El Camino College and later the University of Southern California. According to her alma mater's website, at the time she was known as Wendy Sánchez. She launched her broadcasting career at KTVK-TV in Phoenix, and went on to appear on the 'Extra' news magazine show, co-hosted 'Good Day LA,' and served as the original host of the dancing competition series 'So You Think You Can Dance.' At 40, Sánchez became a licenced helicopter pilot – a pursuit inspired by her father, a flight instructor. In 2016, she founded Black Ops Aviation – the first female-owned aerial film production company. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the company consulted on Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk.' 'I had my job, I had a career, and then I found a calling,' she told the publication. 'I loved entertainment and I loved filming, and so I got to combine all of it.' The 55-year-old also serves as the vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, and is dedicated to 'fighting climate change and the protection of nature, as well as early childhood education, programming, and housing support,' according to the fund's website. In 2025, Sánchez was one of the six female passengers who were launched to the edge of space by Bezos' Blue Origin NS-31 rocket for a brief, 10-minute journey. She 'brought the mission together,' according to Blue Origin, and personally selected her fellow space travelers, who included journalist Gayle King, singer Katy Perry and research scientist and rape survivor Amanda Nguyen. Sánchez also worked with luxury fashion house Monse to design new flight suits for the mission. She said the view from space was not what she expected. 'Earth looked so – it was so quiet,' she said. 'And you look at it, and you're like, 'We're all in this together.'' Sánchez also authored a children's book, 'The Fly Who Flew to Space,' published in English and Spanish in 2024. The book tells a story of a fly named Flynn who travels to space and returns with a newfound commitment to the planet – a narrative Sánchez described to People as 'a metaphor for curiosity and the pursuit of dreams.' She has three children: a son, Nikko, with former NFL player Tony Gonzalez; and son Evan and daughter Ella with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, an entertainment executive. In a 2023 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sánchez said she maintains a close relationship with Gonzalez and his wife, describing them as her 'best friends.' Sánchez and Bezos, 61, went public with their relationship in 2019 after Bezos announced his divorce from his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Scott. The pair got engaged in May 2023. In January, Sánchez accompanied Bezos at US President Donald Trump's second inauguration. During the ceremony, the couple were seated next to Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
Geek Tyrant
an hour ago
- Geek Tyrant
Intriguing Trailer for 1950s-Set Drama FINALLY DAWN Featuring Lily James, Joe Keery and Willem Dafoe — GeekTyrant
After a 2023 Venice Film Festival debut, Samuel Goldwyn Films has debuted the US trailer for the Italian film Finally Dawn , featuring the star-studded cast that includes Lily James, Willem Dafoe, Rachel Sennott, Joe Keery, Alba Rohrwacher, Michele Bravi, and Rebecca Antonaci. The film is written and directed by Saverio Costanzo ( Private , In Memory of Me , Auschwitz 2006 , In Treatment , My Brilliant Friend ). The synopsis reads: 'Rome, 1953. The night after the murder of Wilma Montesi, several people linked to a sword-and-sandal film set in ancient Egypt that is being shot at Cinecittà find themselves sharing many moments: Mimosa (Rebecca Antonaci), a simple Roman girl, about to marry a man who is liked more by his family than by her, who initially showed up at Cinecittà only to be an extra; Josephine Esperanto (Lily James), the star of the film, a veteran of classic Hollywood who feels threatened by the new generation of 'naturalistic' actors represented by Sean Lockwood, another protagonist of the film; Rufus Priori, an American gallery owner & friend of Josephine's, who will lead the unlikely group on their journey throughout the night.' This looks like an interesting original story. It debuted at a couple of film festivals in 2023, so it's weird we haven't heard more about it. But you'll have the chance to view it now, as it hits select US theaters and VOD on July 18th. Check out the trailer below:
