Leonardo DiCaprio, long hailed for his environmental advocacy, is once again under fire after new images show him boarding Jeff Bezos’s $500 million mega-yacht. The photos have reignited criticism of the actor’s high-carbon lifestyle, especially considering his vocal stance on climate change and past pledges to lead by example in the fight for a sustainable future.
The Photos That Sparked Outrage: Activist or Hypocrite?
Over the weekend, Leonardo DiCaprio was photographed alongside his girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, as they stepped onto Jeff Bezos’s ultra-luxurious yacht. Also on board were Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez. The yacht, reportedly valued at half a billion dollars, is symbolic of ultra-wealthy excess—and for DiCaprio, it’s also the latest spark in a firestorm of backlash.
Critics on social media quickly condemned the actor, calling out what they see as blatant hypocrisy. While DiCaprio has spent over two decades using his platform to promote environmental causes, his personal lifestyle—frequent private jet flights, superyacht vacations, and appearances at opulent events—seems increasingly out of step with the values he claims to champion.
This isn’t the first time the actor has been criticized. In 2016, he flew from France to New York and back via private jet to accept an award for climate change advocacy. More recently, he was seen attending the Bezos wedding in Venice—an event that saw over 90 private jets fly in, much to the dismay of environmental protestors and residents of the sinking city.
Notably, at the Venice wedding, DiCaprio appeared to hide from paparazzi, donning a cap and keeping his face obscured. The latest yacht photos, however, show him openly greeting Bezos with a smile—prompting many to argue that DiCaprio is no longer even pretending to keep up appearances.
Public Reaction: The Mask Has Slipped
Online reaction to the viral yacht images has been swift and scathing. One user wrote, “It’s dystopian to see someone like Leo, who’s spent years championing environmental causes, cozying up to MAGA billionaires like Bezos. It’s like he’s given up pretending.”
Another added, “All-time great acting job convincing people he’s an environmentalist while flying around the world in jets for 20 years.”
Others referenced his starring role in the satirical climate film Don’t Look Up, saying the irony of DiCaprio aligning with the very elite behavior the movie mocked was “really… something.” A resurfaced clip from his 2016 documentary Before the Flood also gained traction, in which Indian environmentalist Sunita Narain told him point-blank: “Your consumption is really going to put a hole in the planet.”
Even in that moment, DiCaprio admitted: “We have to practice what we preach.” Still, he conceded the difficulty of convincing the public—particularly Americans—to make meaningful lifestyle changes.
But for many, that answer no longer cuts it. In a year where environmental disasters are reaching critical levels and accountability is more demanded than ever, celebrities are finding that old defenses are no longer enough.
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