Charitable Dua Lipa has opened up her purse to compensate Palermo locals inconvenienced by her lavish wedding.
On Thursday, the 30-year-old pop star arrived in Sicily with new husband Callum Turner, 36, for a star-studded blowout to celebrate getting hitched.
Reportedly costing £1.5million, the three-day party has ‘taken over’ the city, with Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Mark Ronson, and Donatella Versace on the guest list.
Some residents are far from happy, though, with posters splashed across walls and monuments, as well as spray paint graffiti, informing the newlyweds that Palermo is ‘not for rent’.
While fans have argued that the extravaganza will benefit the economy, others have expressed anger, accusing Dua, Callum, and their celeb pals of treating the town square like their ‘living room’.
Now, as the celebrations continue over the weekend, it has emerged that Dua did, in fact, pay out to those who would be caught up in the action.
Metro understands that the Don’t Start Now hitmaker, whose net worth is said to be $45m (£33.7m), paid around £5,000 in total to compensate the residents for parking inconveniences.
Dua and Callum are also believed to have booked out several Airbnb rentals to prevent vendors with guests from complaining about the partying.
Inhabitants of the Italian island’s capital city reportedly tried to catch a glimpse of Dua and Callum’s grand celebrations earlier this week as cocktails started flowing in Piazza Sant’Anna.
Alas, thanks to an enhanced police presence in the area for maximum security, the disappointed crowds were moved on, with one individual saying: ‘It all seems a bit over the top. We just wanted to see Dua Lipa and wish her well, but police told us to leave.’
Black screens and metal fences have since been erected on a side street to prevent prying eyes from getting a look-in.
It’s also been reported that some local businesses have grown irritated that they needed to close up early on Friday, which is typically the prime time for tourists to splash the cash on a night out.
A source previously revealed: ‘Dua and Callum have put together the most incredible itinerary for their celebrations in Sicily.
‘The last-minute preparations have been hectic — and she’s been back and forth to Italy for dress fittings — but it’s all coming together perfectly.’
They added that it was to make for a ‘true fairytale wedding’ for the couple, who confirmed their engagement last July.
Dua and Callum sorted the legal bit before jetting abroad, officially becoming husband and wife with a 30-minute ceremony last weekend at Old Marylebone Town Hall.
With just a few loved ones in attendance to do the honours of throwing confetti upon their exit, it was an intimate affair, with Dua walking down the aisle alongside her parents, Dukagjin and Anesa, while her sister, Rina, and brother, Gjin, watched on.
Callum, who is tipped to become the next James Bond, reportedly burst into tears upon seeing his soon-to-be-wife and was ‘shaking’ before exchanging vows.
Several days later, they travelled to Italy to kickstart the festivities properly, beginning on Thursday night with an outdoor soiree at the five-star Villa Igiea hotel, which is where the lovebirds are staying.
From there, they moved to Bagheria, with a second ceremony taking place at the baroque estate Villa Valguarnera.
Despite the backlash, one person is very pleased that Dua and Callum opted for Palermo as their second wedding location, and that’s Mayor Roberto Lagalla.
Speaking to local newspaper La República, he recalled how the couple had fallen in love with the city after holidaying there last year.
‘The fact that a world-class artist like Dua Lipa chose Palermo to celebrate her wedding and did so just a year after her previous visit confirms how attractive the city is today on an international level,’ he said.
As for the protests and fury from locals, he said he ‘understands’ that ‘events of this magnitude’ will be an ‘inconvenience’.
‘I’m sorry if anyone will have to face temporary restrictions.’
‘We know that extraordinary events can leave some people unhappy because of their exceptional nature; these are limited-time events,’ he insisted.
‘All the measures adopted were designed primarily to ensure the safety of those involved and the public.
‘We must not forget the image boost Palermo receives from occasions like this. The international visibility generated by events of this magnitude helps strengthen the city’s attractiveness and generate widespread economic benefits.’
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