Leonardo DiCaprio misses Palm Springs awards amid travel chaos after US attacks
Leonardo DiCaprio was unable to attend the Palm Springs International Film Awards after the US military action in Venezuela caused mass flight cancellations and airspace restrictions in the Caribbean and Southern California.
Leonardo DiCaprio was unable to attend the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Saturday, January 3, as air travel disruptions linked to the US military strikes in Venezuela prevented him from reaching California.
The actor was scheduled to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance one fight after another But they were stranded in the Caribbean while on vacation in St. Barths due to restricted airspace and mass flight cancellations as tensions escalated in Venezuela.
Confirming his absence, a spokesperson for the Palm Springs International Film Festival said that DiCaprio was unable to attend the event in person due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace. The festival went ahead with the celebrations and the actor was honored despite his absence.
However, he shared a video message expressing his gratitude for his award for One Battle After Another. He said in his acceptance speech, “Movies are still meant to be experienced together in the theater. Right now, that trust matters more than ever.”
Watch the clip shared by Diversity Here:
The US military action began on Saturday morning after President Donald Trump confirmed a large-scale attack on several targets in Venezuela, including Caracas and key military installations. The US administration said the operation was aimed at weakening the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom Trump has accused of drug trafficking and promoting illegal migration to the United States.
The attacks caused widespread air travel disruption in the eastern Caribbean region, effectively closing Venezuelan airspace to commercial traffic. Hundreds of flights were canceled or diverted, affecting services to destinations such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Aruba. As the situation developed, many airlines waived change fees for affected passengers.
An unrelated FAA air traffic control issue also caused flight delays in Southern California, briefly affecting operations at Palm Springs International Airport. The ground stop was lifted later in the evening, although delays continued at several airports in the region.
A combination of restricted airspace in the Caribbean and widespread aviation disruptions ultimately prevented DiCaprio from reaching California in time for the awards ceremony.