Leonardo DiCaprio Misses Palm Springs Awards Following U.S. Invasion of Venezuela
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, Leonardo DiCaprio was unable to attend the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards ceremony in California following the U.S. military action in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro. The Oscar-winning actor was scheduled to receive the honorary “Desert Palm Achievement Award” at the festival’s 37th edition on Saturday night, January 3, 2026.
The One Battle After Another star was staying on the Caribbean island of St. Barts, located approximately 600 miles northwest of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Following the U.S. invasion, hundreds of flights over the Caribbean Sea were canceled, and U.S. commercial aviation activities remained suspended through Sunday afternoon for security reasons.
In lieu of his physical presence, DiCaprio sent a recorded message to the festival. His One Battle After Another co-stars, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, accepted the award on his behalf. In the message, the 51-year-old actor stated: “I am stuck on the East Coast. I wish I could have been there with all of you for this celebration. I am truly grateful to be a part of this ceremony, even from afar.”
A spokesperson for the Palm Springs Film Festival told Variety that DiCaprio was unable to attend in person due to security concerns: “His talent and commitment to the craft continue to be an inspiration, and we are honored to present him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award tonight.”
Despite the travel restrictions, DiCaprio was the only major star to miss the event, as many of his colleagues, including Timothée Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan, and Kate Hudson, appeared on the red carpet.
On January 1, 2026, DiCaprio was spotted on a yacht in St. Barts alongside his 27-year-old girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, as well as Jeff Bezos and retired quarterback Tom Brady. During last year’s U.S. election, the actor endorsed Kamala Harris, stating, “We cannot afford to go backward.”
