at least as blasted out by the various articles that I was trying to avoid but couldn't because the news sites were swamped in them, was EXACTLY what the tourism protests have been about. EXPLOITATION.
And moreso in this case because both of them ARE "Americans" and brought the obscenity of the billionaire class into a city already (literally) drowning (climate/water issues and otherwise) and overrun in tourism.
‘Kisses yes, Bezos No,’ protesters say, as Bezos wedding bonanza stirs controversy in Venice
Locals opposed to the wedding festivities have multiple concerns, ranging from logistical disruptions to environmental impacts of a sudden influx of yachts and private jets.
Updated 8:56 PM EDT, June 28, 2025
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Hundreds of protesters marched through Venice’s central streets on Saturday to say “No” to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-awaited wedding extravaganza, which reached its third and final day amid celebrity-crowded parties and the outcries of tired residents.
On Friday, the world’s fourth-richest man and his bride Lauren Sanchez Bezos tied the knot during a private ceremony with around 200 celebrity guests on the secluded island of San Giorgio.
The wedding, however, angered many Venetians, with some activists protesting it as an exploitation of the city by the billionaire Bezos, while ordinary residents suffer from overtourism, high housing costs and the constant threat of climate-induced flooding.
As the two newlyweds prepared for the final party Saturday evening, hundreds of Venetians and protesters from across Italy filled Venice’s tiny streets with colorful banners reading “Kisses Yes, Bezos No” and “No Bezos, no War.” Venice has around 50,000 residents.
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