A group of Venetian young people gathered in a square near the Rialto bridge to protest billionaire Jeff Bezos’ upcoming wedding to journalist Lauren Sanchez. The protesters, many of whom were struggling financially and concerned about overtourism, hung banners and signs criticizing the event’s impact on the city. They fear that the high-profile wedding will attract even more tourists, exacerbating Venice’s existing problems with a dwindling lack of services like schools, hospitals, and affordable housing. The protests have sparked controversy, with some locals opposing the demonstrations as “cold” and others supporting them as a necessary stand against gentrification.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/17/travel/jeff-bezos-wedding-protests-divide-venice