Leonardo DiCaprio fled LA fires in a private jet. That doesn’t make him a hypocrite | Opinion
Can we please stop picking on Leonardo DiCaprio’s mode of transportation?
Granted, escaping the Los Angeles wildfires in a private jet wasn’t the best look for an actor who preaches against climate change and donates tens of millions of dollars to environmental causes.
That sin has gotten him branded a “complete hypocrite” on social media, even though this wasn’t the first time he’s flown by private jet and almost certainly won’t be the last.
But apparently, this instance is particularly egregious.
Here’s how the thinking goes: The city where Leo lives goes up in flames, and he just hops on a plane with his young girlfriend, his 81-year-old father and his stepmother and heads off to Mexico, leaving the rest of us to pick up the pieces.
He could have at least flown coach on United or, better yet, driven a Prius, right?
Other celebrities criticized
If it’s any consolation to Leo’s fans, he isn’t the only celeb whose behavior is being called out.
Mandy Moore shares a link to a GoFundMe account benefiting her in-laws, who lost everything in the fire? How dare she expect everyday people to donate!
Chrissy Teigen posts a photo of herself preparing to evacuate? How shallow!
Jamie Lee Curtis says the devastation in Pacific Palisades looks like war-torn Gaza? Completely tone-deaf, even if she did donate $1 million to fire victims!
But DeCaprio is the worst.
Private jets, after all, have been identified as a growing contributor to climate change, which in turn has resulted in more severe fires, hurricanes, droughts and other weather-related catastrophes.
In other words, DiCaprio is contributing to the very problem he’s trying to solve.
But let’s think about this. Would it be better if Leo just shut up and acted and left climate change to the Al Gores and Greta Thunbergs of the world?
Or if he took back the millions he’s donated to worthy causes, including wildlife and marine preservation and providing access to clean drinking water?
Of course not. Celebrities have incredible influence, and using it to draw attention to climate change — which truly is an existential crisis — is commendable, and criticizing DiCaprio for flying in a private jet borders on petty.
Given our weird fascination with celebrities, it’s understandable that stars would be reluctant to fly commercial out of concern for their privacy and security.
So can we just cut DeCaprio — and all the other Hollywood celebs who, believe it or not, have been adversely affected by the wildfires — some slack?
Let’s save the public shaming for those whose actions are truly despicable, like the looters breaking into evacuated homes.
Or the pilot of a private drone that violated protected air space and crashed into a Super Scooper, sidelining an aircraft capable of dropping large volumes of water on the flames.
Or the trolls who have been so quick to blame what they perceive as the “failed state” of California.
Once we have a clearer picture of what happened, public officials and other responsible parties should be held accountable for any miscalculations or failures to act.
But this is the time to offer sympathy and support to the victims.
That includes not only those who have lost homes, businesses, churches, schools and — worst of all — loved ones, but also their friends, families and neighbors who grieve alongside them.
Residents of L.A. deserve some grace — even the rich and famous ones.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
