While Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez hosted a multi-million-dollar wedding celebration in Venice, actress Charlize Theron used her own high-profile event in Los Angeles to draw attention to a different kind of gathering — one focused on global issues and community upliftment.
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The South African-born star was speaking at her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) Block Party on Saturday, where she addressed a crowd of supporters and took a pointed swipe at the billionaire couple’s lavish wedding.
“I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding, but that’s okay because they suck and we’re cool,” she said, as quoted by Vanity Fair.
While Theron’s comments drew laughs at the event, her broader message focused on the urgent challenges facing many communities around the world.
She spoke about the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights, rising gender-based violence, and immigration policies that affect families globally — issues she said are not just political but personal.
“Especially when the world feels like it’s burning, because it is,” she said.
Theron also reflected on the impact of US foreign aid cuts on healthcare access in South Africa, saying programmes for HIV and AIDS support had been significantly affected.
“There is power in all of us standing up, organising, protesting, voting and caring for each other,” she added. “Although our focus is on the youth in Southern Africa, what we’re really talking about here tonight is that all lives should be valued.”
The contrast between the two events — one a $50 million celebration with 200 VIP guests including Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Kardashians, and the other a fundraising effort to support youth in Southern Africa — was not lost on observers.
Locals in Venice even launched a protest campaign titled “No Space for Bezos”, criticising the social and economic impact of luxury tourism on everyday residents.
Though Theron’s comments about the wedding made headlines, the primary focus of the event remained on fundraising and awareness around long-standing social issues — a reminder of the different ways influence can be used.
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Feature Image: Getty
