LATER, ALLIGATOR

PROTESTERS have taken a bite out of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’s mal three-day wedding celebration plans.

Bezos is hakking af with new motjie Lauren Sanchez in Venice after divorcing long-time wife and author MacKenzie Scott in 2019 after they had been together for 25 years.

But the Amazon Tycoon has found nuwe liefde with American journalist Sanchez and plans to splash the cash in a three-day wedding celebration in the Italian city of love.

However, Bezos’s plans have hit a bit of a snag ahead of him and Sanchez’s groot dag after a planned party at a 16th-century hall in the heart of the Italian city got moved after protester threatened they will spoil festivities by gooiing 'n vrag blow-up crocodiles in the canal to prevent guest from arriving.

Protestor Tommaso Cacciari told the The Times newspaper: “Bezos is on the run – this is a crazy victory for a small group of people with no money who went up against one of the richest men on the planet.”

Various groups of protesters have joined forces under the ‘No Space for Bezos’ banner to protest against the lavish ceremony that they claim epitomises how Venice has lost its soul to tourism.

But a rival group of hoteliers, restaurant owners and business associations, calling themselves ‘Yes Venice Can’, have decided to chime in on behalf of the 61-year-old Bezos and promises to give the American and his bride-to-be the wedding of their dreams.

The group said in a statement: “We cannot allow a noisy minority to discredit the image of this city in the eyes of the world.

“We will put on the very best welcome for Bezos, as we always do for those who choose Venice as a holiday destination or as a backdrop to big events. Venice is a city that welcomes people – it doesn’t turn them away.”

Activists had protested against the wedding on Monday by unfurling a banner in St Mark’s Square that read: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”

The demonstration was organised by Greenpeace and the British campaign group Everyone Hates Elon.

Greenpeace campaigner Clara Thompson said: “While Venice is sinking under the weight of the climate crisis, billionaires are partying like there is no tomorrow on their mega-yachts.

“This isn’t just about one person – it’s about changing the rules so no billionaire can dodge responsibility, anywhere…”