Rosie O’Donnell has never shied away from expressing her opinions, and her latest target is billionaire Jeff Bezos’ extravagant wedding to Lauren Sánchez. The three-day affair, held in Venice, reportedly cost over $50 million, a sum that barely dents the fortune of Bezos, whose net worth is estimated at around $220 billion. The guest list was a who’s who of the celebrity world, including Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Mick Jagger, and Kim Kardashian.
O’Donnell, who moved abroad with her 12-year-old child, Clay, shortly before Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, used her Substack newsletter to denounce the “gross excess” of the wedding. She criticized not only the opulence of the event but also the high-profile attendees, questioning the values that such displays of wealth represent.
“It turned my stomach. Seeing all these billionaires. Gathering in the gross excess of it all. The show of it,” O’Donnell wrote. “Is Oprah friends with Jeff Bezos? Really – how is that possible? He treats his employees with disdain. By any metric he is not a nice man. And his fake fem bot wife. Who looks like that? Why would he choose her? After the salt of the earth Mackenzie.”
Celebrity Criticism and Public Reaction
O’Donnell’s comments are part of a broader critique of the wedding, which has drawn ire from various quarters. Megyn Kelly, known for her forthright opinions, also criticized the guest list during her SiriusXM show, mocking the “star-studded” nature of the event.
“Because that’s what you do when you are Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez: You invite only your close friends,” Kelly said. “You’re literally one of the richest men in the world, so you’d make sure that you only invite the people who love you for you, you know, the people who were there before you built Amazon.”
Charlize Theron, speaking at her Africa Outreach Block Party in Los Angeles, made a pointed joke about the wedding, suggesting that not being invited was a badge of honor.
Meanwhile, local Venetians expressed their displeasure with the nuptials, organizing protests across the city. Activists unfurled banners reading “No Space for Bezos” and “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,” highlighting concerns over corporate greed and overtourism.
Context and Background
Bezos and Sánchez’s relationship became public in early 2019, coinciding with Bezos’ announcement of his divorce from MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage. The timing of their romance sparked widespread media interest, given both were undergoing high-profile separations.
The lavish wedding in Venice is emblematic of a broader trend among the ultra-wealthy to host opulent events that often stand in stark contrast to the economic realities faced by many. This disparity has become a focal point for critics like O’Donnell, who argue that such displays of wealth are tone-deaf amid growing economic inequality.
Implications and Forward-Looking Analysis
The criticism of Bezos’ wedding highlights a growing cultural divide over wealth and its display. As economic inequality becomes more pronounced, public figures like O’Donnell are increasingly vocal about the social responsibilities of the wealthy. This sentiment is echoed by various social movements advocating for greater corporate accountability and equitable wealth distribution.
As the world grapples with economic challenges, the actions of billionaires like Bezos will continue to be scrutinized. The backlash against his wedding may serve as a catalyst for broader discussions about wealth, privilege, and the responsibilities that come with immense financial power.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen whether such criticisms will lead to meaningful change or if they will simply become part of the ongoing dialogue about wealth and inequality in the modern age.
