In a stunning display of opulence, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to marry Lauren Sanchez in Venice this weekend, drawing a star-studded guest list that includes the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Tom Brady. However, the extravagant affair has ignited fierce backlash from locals and activists alike, who are protesting against the billionaire’s lavish celebration in a city already grappling with the impacts of wealth inequality and over-tourism.

As the wedding festivities unfold, Venice has transformed into a battleground of contrasting sentiments. While Bezos and Sanchez revel in their high-profile nuptials, demonstrators have taken to the streets, with some scaling flagpoles and others staging dramatic protests, including a dummy of Bezos tossed into a canal. Local residents express their outrage, accusing the billionaire of treating their historic city as his personal playground, while others argue that such events boost the local economy.

Despite the heavy police presence, which includes over 100 officers deployed to secure the event, the protests have not gone unnoticed. Many Venetians see Bezos as a symbol of the growing wealth gap, and the criticisms have sparked heated debates about the sustainability of tourism in the city. Alina Tabeton, a journalist on the ground, reports that while some locals support the protests, many artisans rely on the influx of wealth brought by events like this wedding.

As the couple celebrates their love, the stark divide between the rich and the rest looms large, and the echoes of dissent resonate through the canals of Venice. Will Bezos’s love story overshadow the cries for justice from those who feel left behind? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: this wedding is far from a quiet affair.