“No space for Bezos” was the message protesters held up in Venice, Italy, amid the lavish wedding celebration of entrepreneur Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez. The opulent ceremony and celebrity parade began Thursday, June 26, with pre-wedding events that raised alarms not out of love, but out of concern.

The guest list didn’t go unnoticed: Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kris Jenner, Bill Gates, Usher, and even Ivanka Trump all flew to Italy for the event. The morning before the main ceremony, demonstrators gathered in St. Mark’s Square with signs reading: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”

What seemed like a scene from a romantic movie felt more like a provocation to many. Guests arrived by gondola, adorned in designer jewels and fine attire, champagne in hand while outside, protests and banners demanded accountability.

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What’s happening in Venice and why the backlash?

Venice has long been a symbol of beauty and culture, but also fragility. The city is literally sinking, and while climate change is a key factor, mass tourism is worsening the problem. Locals have voiced frustration over the surge in watercraft, damage to foundations, and growing pollution. The arrival of 90 private jets, 30 water taxis, and some megayachts to transport wedding guests only heightened that feeling of invasion.

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Beyond the environmental impact lies the symbolism: while millions strive daily to reduce their ecological footprint, the excesses of the ultra-wealthy seem to mock collective responsibility. For many, this wedding was the tipping point.

Added to this is the broader discontent around what this couple represents: a romance that began amid infidelity and now unfolds amid ostentation. Lauren reportedly wore over 27 dresses across the celebrations glamorous to some, provocative to others.

Although, according to media reports, the couple asked guests to consider donations to environmental causes, many see it as a gesture that doesn’t erase the real impact of such a lavish celebration in a vulnerable city.