
The famous actress of South African origin, Charlize Theron, has publicly expressed her dissatisfaction with the luxurious wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, describing the event as a "total disgrace."
Her comments were made during the annual "Block Party" charity event, organized by the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project foundation on June 20 in Los Angeles.
"I think we're the only ones who didn't get an invite to Bezos' wedding, but that's okay, because they're bad and we're okay," the actress said ironically, speaking from the stage.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, she further added: "Thank you for being here, especially at a time when the world seems to be on fire, because it really is."
In her statement, Theron sharply criticized the luxury and detachment from reality of such events, at a time when, according to her, the world is facing increasingly worrying social and political crises. She mentioned the immigration crisis in the US, the restriction of women's and LGBTQ+ rights, and the increase in gender-based violence.
The wedding that sparked reactions and protests
The wedding ceremony of the Amazon founder and his partner Lauren Sanchez took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, and was accompanied by a series of luxurious events, including a formal reception, a pajama party and performances by artists such as Matteo Bocelli and Ellie Goulding.
The event has also drawn criticism from activists and environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace and the group No Space for Bezos, who accused Bezos of tax evasion and exploiting the city of Venice as a “private commodity.” Protesters unfurled a banner in St. Mark’s Square that read: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay even more taxes.”
Despite the criticism, the couple reportedly made donations to local charities months before the wedding and chose to instead of wedding gifts, contribute on behalf of guests to projects that support the city.