Bezos wedding ceremony invitations protests in Venice : NPR

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Antonio Calanni/AP/AP VENICE, Italy — A whole bunch of protesters marched by way of Venice's central streets on Saturday to say "No" to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-awaited wedding ceremony extravaganza, which reached its third and closing day amid celebrity-crowded events and the outcries of drained residents.

On Friday, the world's fourth-richest man and his bride Lauren Sanchez Bezos tied the knot throughout a non-public ceremony with round 200 celeb company on the secluded island of San Giorgio.

The marriage, nevertheless, angered many Venetians, with some activists protesting it as an exploitation of town by the billionaire Bezos, whereas abnormal residents endure from overtourism, excessive housing prices and the fixed menace of climate-induced flooding.

As the 2 newlyweds ready for the ultimate get together Saturday night, a whole bunch of Venetians and protesters from throughout Italy crammed Venice's tiny streets with colourful banners studying "Kisses Sure, Bezos No" and "No Bezos, no Conflict." Venice has round 50,000 residents.

The demonstration contrasted with the costly wedding ceremony bonanza, seen by critics as an affront to the lagoon metropolis's fragile atmosphere and its residents, overwhelmed by throngs of vacationers.

"We're right here to proceed ruining the plans of those wealthy individuals, who accumulate cash by exploiting many different individuals … whereas the circumstances of this metropolis stay precarious," mentioned Martina Vergnano, one of many demonstrators.

The protest organizers claimed that their deliberate protest had compelled the relocation of Saturday's get together from a supposed preliminary location to a former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale.

Bezos donated 1 million euros ($1.17 million) every to a few environmental analysis organizations working to protect Venice, in response to Corila, the Venetian environmental analysis affiliation.

However many protesters blasted the transfer as a transparent try to appease indignant residents.

"We would like a free Venice, which is lastly devoted to its residents. … These donations are only a distress and solely geared toward clearing Bezos' conscience," mentioned Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activist who joined Saturday's protest.

Particulars of the unique wedding ceremony ceremony Friday evening had been a carefully guarded secret, till Sánchez Bezos posted to Instagram a photograph of herself beaming in a white robe as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos.

Athletes, celebrities, influencers and enterprise leaders converged to experience extravagance that was as a lot a testomony to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth.

The star-studded visitor listing included Oprah Winfrey and NFL nice Tom Brady, together with Hollywood stars Leonardo Di Caprio and Orlando Bloom, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Invoice Gates and prime socialites, together with the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and their three kids additionally joined the celebrations.

The bride and groom stayed on the Aman Venice resort on the Grand Canal, the place Bezos posed for pictures and Sanchez Bezos blew kisses to the press.

"The planet is burning however don't fret, this is the listing of the 27 clothes of Lauren Sánchez," learn one protest slogan, a reference to the bride's reported wedding ceremony weekend wardrobe. It featured a mermaid-lined wedding ceremony robe by Dolce & Gabbana and different Dolce Vita-inspired seems by Italian designers, together with Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.

Town administration has strongly defended the nuptials as in line with Venice's custom as an open metropolis that has welcomed popes, emperors and abnormal guests alike for hundreds of years.