Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will marry fiancée Lauren Sanchez this week in one of the most celebrity-studded weddings of the year. Bezos' and Sanchez' three-day wedding will be held between June 26 and June 28 on Italy's island of San Giorgio off Venice.

As much as the wedding has made international headlines over its A-list guest list, it has also unleashed a frenzy of local outrage, leading to what has become the Bezos Venice wedding protest.

San Giorgio Island Transformed into Exclusive Venue

The newlywed couple has allegedly rented the whole island for their VIP party, with over 200 A-listers in attendance. Guests will be on Bezos' $500 million yacht, Koru, during the partying, making a spectacle that has further infuriated many Venetians. They say the wedding is a symbol of the growing divide between the super-rich and ordinary people—and they're protesting in the streets to have their say.

Activists Trigger a Public Uproar

On June 23, protesters from organizations like Greenpeace and "Everyone Hates Elon" made their point clear and loud. They rolled out a giant placard in St Mark's Square addressed to Bezos and demanding that billionaires be taxed. Their protest is part of a larger movement that is unfolding in the city, the Bezos Venice wedding protest, condemning not only the single person, but a system that permits gargantuan wealth to dominate public life.

"No Space for Bezos": The Local Resistance

Another outspoken group, "No Space for Bezos," has started protesting against what they describe as the "privatization of Venice." They think that the billionaire is turning the old town into his personal party zone. Protester Alice Bazzoli told local media, "He is going to use the whole city like a private ballroom, as a private event space, as if the citizens are not there." Protesters have also criticized Amazon for destroying small businesses and exploiting workers, stoking a highly charged atmosphere.

More than a Wedding: A Fight for Equality

One of the demonstrators explained to Reuters, "The issue is not the wedding. The issue is the system. We believe that it is not possible for one billionaire to lease a city to play with." There were others who mentioned the tax rate of Bezos, which was said to be as low as 1.1%, and questioned how someone so affluent could give back so little to society.

City Officials Defend the Glamorous Affair

Despite the criticism, local politicians are embracing the celebrity wedding. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Veneto Governor Luca Zaia both jumped to defend the wedding, describing it as an economic bonanza for the city. Zaia estimated the wedding to add between €20 to €30 million to the regional economy, a boost in revenue for hotels, caterers, and gondola companies.

A City Grappling with Fame and Frustration

But these promises have not been enough to quiet the Bezos Venice wedding protest. The locals remain concerned that such high-end events make it appear acceptable for Venice to be a high-end playground for the wealthy, not a living city with real people, culture, and struggles.

More Than A Wedding — A Symbolic Divide

The growing protest movement is an indication of Venice's constant fight against commercialization, overtourism, and cultural erosion. While some see Bezos' wedding as a lavish love party, others see it as a bitter reminder of elitism and inequality.

As wedding dates approach, it is clear that Venice will not only be hosting an amazing wedding but also a significant public discourse on money, space, and power.