As preparations for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s high-profile wedding continue in Venice, a series of public demonstrations have drawn attention across the historic city.
On June 25, protesters placed a life-sized dummy resembling Bezos into a canal, sparking conversation around the symbolism and broader concerns about the event’s presence in the city.
The figure, dressed in an Amazon worker’s jumpsuit and gripping a mock Amazon box along with fistfuls of cash, floated through the Grand Canal past gondolas and tourists. The installation was mounted on a motorized raft and organized by Borne Media, a protest group critical of the couple’s wedding celebrations and Bezos’s broader business practices.
This act follows a wave of local activism ahead of the multi-day wedding festivities. Over a dozen Venetian organizations—including housing advocates and environmental groups—have voiced concern about the city’s growing vulnerability to overtourism and privatization of public space. Protest slogans such as “No Space for Bezos” and “IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX” have appeared on posters, banners, and stickers throughout the city center. Some of the signs have been removed by authorities.
Despite the backlash, city officials have expressed strong support for the event. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called the wedding “an honor,” stating that Venice “once again reveals itself to be a global stage.” City hall released a statement saying Venice is fully equipped to manage high-profile gatherings and emphasized that the protests do not represent the majority of residents.
The wedding, which will host approximately 250 guests, includes events at notable venues such as a cloister near the Chiesa della Madonna dell’Orto. A previously planned gathering at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia was reportedly relocated to the Arsenale due to security concerns.
To express appreciation for the city, Bezos and Sánchez are said to be sourcing 80% of wedding provisions from local vendors and encouraging guests to make donations to Venice rather than bring gifts. According to city councillor Sebastiano Costalonga, the gesture sets “a very important message” regarding the preservation of the city’s cultural and environmental integrity.
As celebrities continue to arrive—among them Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, and Oprah Winfrey—the celebrations are drawing global media coverage. Meanwhile, protest organizers say they hope their actions draw attention to issues of inequality, climate impact, and the future of Venice as a livable city for its residents.
