Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio was left unable to attend a major film festival in person this weekend after US military strikes on Venezuela triggered widespread air travel disruption across the Caribbean.
Award Acceptance Thwarted by Airspace Closure
The 51-year-old actor was scheduled to appear at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday to receive the prestigious Desert Palm Achievement Award. The honour was for his leading role in Paul Thomas Anderson's dark comedy One Battle After Another, a film about leftist militants.
However, an insider told the Daily Mail that it was announced at the ceremony DiCaprio could not attend "because of restricted airspace." The festival itself confirmed the news in a statement to Deadline, citing "unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace."
Geopolitical Events Trigger Travel Chaos
The disruption stemmed from American airstrikes on Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday. The raid, which reportedly led to the abduction of the country's leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, threw Caribbean air travel into disarray. Venezuela has a Caribbean coastline, and the security measures enacted in the aftermath impacted flights across the region.
DiCaprio had been holidaying in the area, having been glimpsed on New Year's Eve relaxing on Jeff Bezos' yacht off the coast of St. Barts with his 27-year-old girlfriend, Italian model Vittoria Ceretti. He was seen again on New Year's Day yachting with friend Tom Brady.
Virtual Tribute from Co-Stars
Despite his physical absence, the award ceremony proceeded with a tribute to the Oscar-winner. His One Battle After Another co-stars, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, took to the stage to pay homage and accept the trophy on his behalf.
DiCaprio then accepted the award via a pre-recorded video message. A source described the speech as a "hit" and said he received applause both for the honour and his remarks. "It was, however, a wonderful moment in the room," the insider shared. "A beautiful tribute from his co-stars and an amazing reel."
The festival's statement praised DiCaprio's "exceptional work and lasting contributions to cinema," adding that his "talent and dedication to the craft continue to inspire."
One Battle After Another, which features a glittering cast including Sean Penn and Regina Hall, has become an awards season frontrunner, securing the most Golden Globe nominations of any film from the past year.
