KEY POINTS
- Charlize Theron Roasts Bezos Wedding During Her Charity Event in L.A.
- MacKenzie Scott Emerges as Public Favourite for Donating Over $19 Billion To Charity
The glittering canals of Venice saw no shortage of stars last week, as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez tied the knot in a $50 million spectacle of a wedding. But while the newlyweds basked in attention from the world's A-listers, the backlash from some prominent Hollywood figures has been just as headline-grabbing as the guest list itself.
Leading the charge was Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, who publicly criticised the couple's lavish three-day celebration during her own philanthropic event over the weekend. Speaking at the fifth annual Block Party for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project in Los Angeles, the actress did not mince words.
'I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding,' Theron quipped onstage, before adding with a smirk, 'But that's OK because they suck and we're cool.'
The 49-year-old used the moment to pivot from personal digs to powerful political messaging. 'Thank you for being a part of this, especially when the world feels like it's burning, because it is,' she continued. Theron went on to denounce regressive policies and rising gender-based violence, stating: 'Women's rights are becoming less and less every day; queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased... this isn't just policy, it's personal. Yeah, f*** them.'
Her comments resonated beyond the event, drawing attention to the widening gap between ultra-wealthy elites and those advocating for social justice.
Katie Couric Takes a Swing at Sánchez's Gown
Elsewhere, veteran journalist Katie Couric added her own scathing commentary, not on the wedding's politics but on its fashion. Taking aim at Sánchez's custom Dolce & Gabbana bridal gown, Couric branded it 'tacky' in a now-viral Instagram comment.
'Welcome to the eighties, when big hair and conspicuous consumption ruled. Apparently tacky is back,' Couric wrote under a now-deleted post by Jack Schlossberg, grandson of JFK. The playful roast continued with Schlossberg replying, 'Let's bring back scrunchies.'
All Eyes on MacKenzie Scott
While criticism rained down on the newlyweds, praise poured in for Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. After divorcing the tech mogul in 2019, Scott walked away with £29 billion ($38 billion) and a pledge to give away at least half of it, a promise she has taken seriously. To date, she has donated over £15 billion ($19 billion) to more than 1,600 organisations, making her one of the most impactful philanthropists in modern history.
Actress Mia Farrow, 80, posted a throwback photo of Scott on Instagram, writing: 'How awesome is MacKenzie Scott! (Jeff Bezos' first wife and mother of his four children).' Her sentiment was quickly echoed by fellow celebrities. 'Truly incredible,' commented actress Olivia Munn. Actress Rosanna Arquette simply summed it up: 'She's a force of humanity and good.'
The Hollywood Divide
In contrast to Scott's quiet generosity, Bezos and Sánchez's celebration drew a crowd of high-profile attendees, including Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Sydney Sweeney, members of the Kardashian-Jenner family and Ivanka Trump. For some, the guest list highlighted the billionaire couple's ongoing effort to reshape their public image. For others, it reinforced perceptions of tone-deaf excess.
The juxtaposition between the opulence of Venice and the grounded impact of Scott's philanthropy is striking, and it has become the main talking point in a week full of headlines.
As Theron pointedly remarked, 'We're cool.' Judging by public sentiment on social media, many would argue that MacKenzie Scott is the coolest one.
