Kim Kardashian touched down in Venice for Jeff Bezos’ wedding as protests erupted across the city over wealth inequality and environmental concerns.
Kim Kardashian landed in Venice Thursday (June 26) for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding festivities just as demonstrators flooded the city with anti-billionaire protests targeting excessive wealth and environmental damage.
The Kardashian entrepreneur arrived at Marco Polo Airport with her sister Khloé Kardashian and mother, Kris Jenner.
Dressed in a black Balenciaga skirt and bandeau top, Kim joined her family on a water taxi headed toward the city center.
The trio is part of a star-studded guest list for the multi-day celebration, which kicked off Wednesday night (June 25) with a private cocktail party at the Aman Hotel. Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Gayle King, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Diane von Furstenberg and Orlando Bloom were also spotted arriving by boat.
While celebrities made their entrance, protest groups across Venice staged coordinated demonstrations under the slogan “No Space for Bezos.”
Activists from housing coalitions, student groups and environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, criticized the billionaire’s wedding as a symbol of unchecked wealth and the commercialization of the historic city.
Banners condemning tax breaks for the ultra-rich and the effects of mass tourism were draped across landmarks, including the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square. One protest featured a dummy of Bezos floating in a canal atop an Amazon box.
Others promised to block waterways using boats and inflatable animals. The backlash prompted organizers to move the main ceremony from its original location to the Arsenale, a more secure venue. Protesters called the change a win.
The wedding has drawn scrutiny not only for its extravagance but also for its timing. Venice has long struggled with overtourism, and critics argue the event highlights how the city caters to the wealthy at the expense of residents.
Bezos and Sánchez’s celebration is expected to continue through Sunday (June 29), with rumors swirling about performances by Elton John and Lady Gaga.
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