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Jenna Bush Hager: Bezos Wedding? No Thanks!
Seems like Today show host Jenna Bush Hager is breathing a sigh of relief after not making the guest list for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s extravagant Venetian wedding. While celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Orlando Bloom partied it up at the three-day affair, complete with foam parties and pajama bashes, Hager discussed the over-the-top nuptials with co-host Maria Shriver, noting the very public nature of the event.
Hager admitted one major turn-off: the protests surrounding the wedding in Venice. “There’s protests in Venice, which I personally would hate,” she commented, drawing a sharp contrast to her own low-key wedding at her parents’ Crawford, Texas ranch in 2008. She expressed sympathy for the couple, acknowledging the intense scrutiny while also hinting that the attention might have been exactly what they wanted.
Indeed, the wedding was a lightning rod for controversy, with local activist groups like “No Space for Bezos” protesting the billionaire’s takeover of the city. Locals expressed frustration with Bezos essentially renting out the entire island of San Georgio Maggiore, treating Venice “as a private ballroom,” according to one protestor. Despite initial plans to hold the ceremony at the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the venue was reportedly changed to the Arsenale amidst protests and threats of disruptions.