Latest news with #NoBezos
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Iran-Israel War or Crocodiles, what made Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez change marriage venue
Amazon multi-billionaire founder Jeff Bezos, right, and Lauren Sanchez leave a hotel in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, ahead of festivities in the lagoon city reportedly linked to their wedding. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) Campaigners in Venice are celebrating a partial victory after forcing billionaire Jeff Bezos to relocate his lavish wedding celebrations from the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the fortified Arsenale complex, as guests began arriving on Tuesday for a three-day extravaganza. The wedding of Bezos, Amazon's founder, and former TV journalist Lauren Sánchez was initially set to take place in the majestic 16th-century Scuola Grande della Misericordia in the heart of Venice. However, the activist group No Space for Bezos threatened to disrupt the event by filling the city's iconic canals with inflatable crocodiles to block access for high-profile guests, prompting the venue change. According to local reports, the switch to the Arsenale—a historic shipyard complex surrounded by fortified walls—was also driven by heightened security concerns following the U.S.'s involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Among the 200 expected guests, who may include Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ivanka Trump, security has been a top priority. Authorities have bolstered protection across Venice, particularly in the Jewish quarter, following Ivanka Trump's arrival on Tuesday. The wedding festivities are believed to begin Thursday, with Bezos and Sánchez exchanging vows on Friday at the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica on its namesake island. The main reception, now at the Arsenale, is slated for Saturday. An estimated 95 private jets are expected to land at Venice's airport to ferry in the elite guest list. The No Space for Bezos campaign, which emerged after Venice's millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, confirmed the wedding plans in March, argues that such events exacerbate the city's struggles with overtourism, risking its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Instead of further disrupting the wedding, activists plan to hold a 'No Bezos, No War' march to protest both the event and global conflicts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo 'We've scored a small but significant victory,' said an anonymous activist. 'The crocodile protest would've tarnished Venice's image, but it pushed them to move the event. They'll say it's about the war, but we know our pressure made a difference.' City officials have yet to comment officially on the venue change, but the heightened security and logistical shifts underscore the challenges of hosting such a high-profile event in a city already strained by tourism and global attention. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
25-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez launch Venice wedding festivities amid security shifts and rising protests
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez arrived in Venice on Wednesday, marking the start of their highly anticipated three-day wedding celebration. The couple touched down via helicopter before transferring to a water taxi, waving to onlookers as they approached the exclusive Aman Venice Hotel on the Grand Canal. Sánchez, radiant in a sleeveless black dress and stilettos, flashed a smile to the cameras, while Bezos opted for a casual black polo and white trousers. The festivities, estimated to cost €40-48 million ($46-56 million), will include a Thursday welcome party at Madonna dell'Orto's cloisters, a Friday black-tie ceremony on San Giorgio Maggiore island featuring a performance by Matteo Bocelli, and a Saturday reception at the Arsenale—a medieval shipyard complex. Over 200 A-list guests, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Oprah Winfrey, and Leonardo DiCaprio, are descending via 90+ private jets, heightening security concerns and logistical tensions in the historic city. The wedding's opulence has ignited fierce protests across Venice, with activists decrying the event as a symbol of wealth inequality and overtourism. Under the banner 'No Space for Bezos,' a coalition of housing advocates, environmentalists, and anti-cruise ship groups staged dramatic demonstrations: unfurling a giant banner in St. Mark's Square depicting Bezos laughing beside the text, 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,' and floating a life-size Bezos mannequin clutching dollar bills down the Grand Canal. Threats to blockade canals with inflatable crocodiles forced the couple to relocate their Saturday reception from the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century landmark in the crowded Cannaregio district, to the Arsenale, a fortified island accessible only by boat. Activists hailed the venue change as a victory, though they plan a 'No Bezos, No War' march on Saturday. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro dismissed the protesters as 'a few dozen seeking attention,' while Governor Luca Zaia revealed Bezos donated €1 million to Venice's lagoon research as a peace offering. Local tensions underscore a deeper clash between Venice's identity as a living city and its reliance on tourism revenue. Longtime residents like Nadia Rigo lamented, 'We who were born here have to ask [the wealthy] for permission to board a ferry,' citing housing shortages and overcrowding exacerbated by events catering to elites. Yet businesses defend the wedding: Antonio Rosa Salva, whose bakery prepared 200 gift boxes for guests, noted weddings comprise 30% of his annual sales, while hotel associations highlighted a recent tourism slump. Wedding planners Lanza & Baucina emphasized efforts to minimize disruption, hiring local workers and booking only 30 of Venice's 250 water taxis. Despite these measures, the Aman Hotel faced criticism for 'booting' long-booked guests to accommodate Bezos's entourage, though it covered relocation costs. As temperatures near 90°F, the city braces for a weekend where glittering celebrations and grassroots dissent will test Venice's future as a 'global stage'.
West Australian
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez: Couple make last-minute wedding venue switch as Venice locals protest
Campaigners in Venice are claiming a small but symbolic win after Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez were reportedly forced to change their main wedding venue amid rising protests and concerns for A-list guests. The lavish celebration was originally set to take place at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a grand 16th-century Venetian landmark in the heart of the city. But according to activist group No Space for Bezos, those plans were quietly scrapped after protesters threatened to blockade celebrity arrivals by floating inflatable crocodiles through the canals. Instead, the reception has reportedly been relocated to the Arsenale di Venezia, a historic former shipyard with fortified walls, a location that's logistically harder for protesters to access and easier for security to lock down, The Guardian reported. Local media reports have also suggested that the switch was not just about the inflatable reptiles. Rising security concerns, particularly after the US formally entered the Israel-Iran conflict, reportedly prompted further caution, especially with high-profile guests like Ivanka Trump arriving in Venice this week. In anticipation, security has been ramped up across the city, with particular focus on the Jewish quarter. Roughly 200 guests are expected for the multi-day affair, including possible appearances from Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio. An estimated 95 private jets are expected to land at Venice airport between Tuesday and Wednesday. While the exact details remain under wraps, celebrations are tipped to begin on Thursday. The couple is expected to marry at the basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore on Friday, followed by a Saturday blowout party. But activists are not backing down. Instead of attempting to stop the wedding entirely, organisers say they'll now stage a No Bezos, No War protest march. 'We feel as if we scored a victory,' one unnamed activist told the media. 'The crocodile initiative would have given a bad impression of the city — this is why the venue was changed, even if the authorities might try to claim it was because of the war.' Posters mocking Bezos, with his head pasted onto a rocket, referencing his Blue Origin space venture, have appeared across the city. Greenpeace Italia and British protest group Everyone Hates Elon also joined in, unveiling a massive banner in St Mark's Square on Monday that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax'. Greenpeace framed the protest as a message against 'social and climate injustice', arguing Bezos represents an 'economic and social model that is leading us towards collapse'. But not everyone is siding with the demonstrators. Venice's millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, who confirmed the wedding plans back in March, said he was ashamed of those protesting about people who 'bring riches' to the city. Sensing opportunity in the chaos, the mayor of Soàve, a walled town of 7000 people in the Veneto region, offered his own pitch. He invited the couple to ditch Venice and marry in what he described as 'the most beautiful village in Italy'.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Jeff Bezos reroutes wedding venue amid protest backlash
Campaigners in Venice are claiming a small but symbolic win after Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez were reportedly forced to change their main wedding venue amid rising protests and concerns for A-list guests. The lavish celebration was originally set to take place at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a grand 16th-century Venetian landmark in the heart of the city. But according to activist group No Space for Bezos, those plans were quietly scrapped after protesters threatened to blockade celebrity arrivals by floating inflatable crocodiles through the canals. Instead, the reception has reportedly been relocated to the Arsenale di Venezia, a historic former shipyard with fortified walls, a location that's logistically harder for protesters to access and easier for security to lock down, The Guardian reported. Local media reports have also suggested that the switch was not just about the inflatable reptiles. Rising security concerns, particularly after the US formally entered the Israel-Iran conflict, reportedly prompted further caution, especially with high-profile guests like Ivanka Trump arriving in Venice this week. In anticipation, security has been ramped up across the city, with particular focus on the Jewish quarter. Roughly 200 guests are expected for the multi-day affair, including possible appearances from Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, and Leonardo DiCaprio. An estimated 95 private jets are expected to land at Venice airport between Tuesday and Wednesday. While the exact details remain under wraps, celebrations are tipped to begin on Thursday. The couple is expected to marry at the basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore on Friday, followed by a Saturday blowout party. But activists are not backing down. Instead of attempting to stop the wedding entirely, organisers say they'll now stage a No Bezos, No War protest march. 'We feel as if we scored a victory,' one unnamed activist told the media. 'The crocodile initiative would have given a bad impression of the city — this is why the venue was changed, even if the authorities might try to claim it was because of the war.' Posters mocking Bezos, with his head pasted onto a rocket, referencing his Blue Origin space venture, have appeared across the city. Greenpeace Italia and British protest group Everyone Hates Elon also joined in, unveiling a massive banner in St Mark's Square on Monday that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax'. A large banner against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' planned wedding. Credit: Greenpeace / AP Greenpeace framed the protest as a message against 'social and climate injustice', arguing Bezos represents an 'economic and social model that is leading us towards collapse'. But not everyone is siding with the demonstrators. Venice's millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, who confirmed the wedding plans back in March, said he was ashamed of those protesting about people who 'bring riches' to the city. Sensing opportunity in the chaos, the mayor of Soàve, a walled town of 7000 people in the Veneto region, offered his own pitch. He invited the couple to ditch Venice and marry in what he described as 'the most beautiful village in Italy'.
