'Kisses Yes, Bezos No': Hundreds protest 3rd and final day of billionaire's Venice wedding

The Associated Press

· Posted: Jun 28, 2025 4:41 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Hundreds of protesters marched done Venice's cardinal streets connected Saturday to accidental "No" to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-awaited wedding extravaganza, which reached its 3rd and last time amid celebrity-crowded parties and the outcries of bushed residents.

On Friday, the world's fourth-richest antheral and Lauren Sanchez tied the knot during a backstage ceremonial with about 200 personage guests connected the secluded land of San Giorgio Maggiore.

The wedding, however, angered galore Venetians, with immoderate activists protesting it arsenic an exploitation of the metropolis by the billionaire Bezos, portion mean residents endure from over-tourism, precocious lodging costs and the changeless menace of climate-induced flooding.

As the 2 newlyweds prepared for the last enactment connected Saturday evening, hundreds of Venetians and protesters from crossed Italy filled Venice's tiny streets with colourful banners reading, "Kisses Yes, Bezos No" and "No Bezos, No War."

The objection contrasted with the costly wedding bonanza, seen by critics arsenic an affront to the lagoon city's fragile situation and its citizens, overwhelmed by throngs of tourists.

"We are present to proceed ruining the plans of these affluent people, who accumulate wealth by exploiting galore different radical — while the conditions of this metropolis stay precarious," said Martina Vergnano, 1 of the demonstrators.

The protestation organizers claimed a triumph aft Saturday's wedding party, which was initially to beryllium held successful cardinal Venice but which they said was aboriginal moved to a erstwhile medieval shipyard, the Arsenale.

Bezos donated one million euros ($1.6 cardinal Cdn) each to 3 biology probe organizations moving to sphere Venice, according to Corila, the Venetian biology probe association.

But galore protesters blasted the determination arsenic a wide effort to appease aggravated residents.

"We privation a escaped Venice, which is yet dedicated to its citizens. Those donations are conscionable a misery and lone aimed astatine clearing Bezos's conscience," said Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activistic who joined Saturday's protest.

Details of the exclusive wedding ceremonial connected Friday nighttime were a intimately guarded secret, until the caller bride, present Sanchez Bezos, posted a photograph to Instagram of herself beaming successful a achromatic gown arsenic she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos.

Athletes, celebrities, influencers and concern leaders converged to revel successful extravagance that was arsenic overmuch a testament to the couple's emotion arsenic to their bonzer wealth.

WATCH | Day 1 of wedding draws A-list celebs, aggravated protesters:

The star-studded impermanent database included Oprah Winfrey and NFL large Tom Brady, on with Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates and apical socialites, including the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their 3 children besides joined the celebrations.

The bride and groom stayed astatine the Aman Venice edifice connected the Grand Canal, wherever Bezos posed for photos and Sanchez Bezos blew kisses to the press.

"The satellite is burning but don't worry, here's the database of the 27 dresses of Lauren Sanchez," work 1 protestation slogan, a notation to the bride's reported wedding play wardrobe. It featured a mermaid-lined wedding gown by Dolce & Gabbana and different Dolce Vita-inspired looks by Italian designers, including Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.

The metropolis medication has powerfully defended the nuptials arsenic successful keeping with Venice's contented arsenic an unfastened metropolis that has welcomed popes, emperors and mean visitors alike for centuries.