Aman Ignores Washington Post Layoff Fears

On January 30, 2026, The Washington Post union announced its members were warned that up to 300 jobs could be cut, though formal announcements are pending. Coincidentally, Post owner Jeff Bezos and his spouse, Lauren Sanchez, were photographed departing the opulent Aman Hotel in Venice, Italy, having celebrated their wedding across several days there. These images, captured June 28, 2025, show the couple leaving the Aman, adding to the optics of a situation NPR's David Folkenflik described as a plea from staff to 'don't gut our newsroom.'

NPR highlighted the stark contrast: Post employees face job insecurity while its owner enjoys lavish European festivities. This follows earlier reports from The New York Times, which detailed prior employee concerns regarding Bezos’s perceived disengagement from the newspaper’s financial struggles.

Our take: The Aman Venice, a palazzo on the Grand Canal, epitomizes discreet luxury, often chosen for high-profile private events. For Bezos to select such an exclusive venue for his wedding at a time when his media enterprise faces significant staff reductions speaks to a profound disconnect. This isn't merely about expense; it's about perceived priorities and the optics of wealth during organizational distress. It poses questions about corporate responsibility versus personal indulgence, especially within the context of a public-facing institution like The Washington Post.