Leonardo DiCaprio’s awards-season momentum ran headlong into geopolitics this weekend.
Sudden airspace restrictions across parts of the Caribbean – related to US President Trump’s strikes on Venezuela – prevented the actor from traveling to California for an award ceremony.
The Oscar winner had been due to attend the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday night, where he was set to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance in One Battle After Another, his latest film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Instead, the ceremony unfolded without him in the room, as festival organisers confirmed that last-minute travel disruptions made an in-person appearance impossible for Leo.
DiCaprio, 51, was spending New Year’s Eve in the Caribbean, where he was seen aboard a yacht belonging to Jeff Bezos near St. Barts.
Within hours, the region’s air travel network was thrown into chaos following U.S. military action against Venezuela, which led to widespread flight restrictions.
During the ceremony, an announcement was made to attendees explaining that the actor could not be physically present.
A source told DailyMail: ‘There was a genuinely moving tribute,’ describing a highlight reel and remarks from DiCaprio’s collaborators as ‘a wonderful moment’ that earned sustained applause.
DiCaprio appeared remotely to accept the award, delivering a video speech.
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Festival organisers later issued an official statement, confirming to Deadline that the actor’s absence was due to ‘unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace,’ while praising his ‘exceptional work and lasting contributions to cinema.’
DiCaprio’s co-stars Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti represented him on stage, accepting the trophy on his behalf and paying tribute to his performance.
One Battle After Another has quickly become one of the breakout contenders of the current awards season, leading the pack in Golden Globe nominations.
(Picture: Reuters)
Alongside DiCaprio, the ensemble cast features Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Benicio del Toro, Alana Haim and comedy veteran Jim Downey.
Follow our live coverage of the US strikes on Venezuela here
The change of plans for the actor came after the US launched a large-scale military operation inside Venezuela, including in the capital, Caracas.
Multiple civilian and military sites have been struck since 2am local time January 3 and Trump later confirmed president Nicolas Maduro’s capture in a post on X.
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US attorney general Pam Bondi later said that the leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, are both indicted in the Southern District of New York.
She added on X: ‘They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.’
The US president published a photo of the former leader, strapped into a harness, wearing a blindfold and ear protectors.
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Trump also pledged to pump ‘billions of dollars’ into exploiting the oil-rich country’s natural resources.
Venezuela’s president and his wife were at their home in Fort Tiuna military installation in Caracas when they were ‘kidnapped.’
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