Leonardo DiCaprio has been known as a champion for protecting the Earth and raising awareness on critical environmental issues for years, but recently, he’s been called out for his less environmentally-friendly actions.
The actor was photographed filming a nature documentary, where he was seen collecting plastic waste in the ocean with a group of children. Once the pictures were released on social media, internet users called him a “hypocrite,” given that he has still been caught using polluting modes of transportation like luxurious yachts and helicopters. While some would argue that he still does more for the cause than most celebrities, others feel he’s canceling out his actions. Read more about his controversial ocean clean-up below.
This Clean, Effective Powder Helps Support Muscle Growth, Endurance, And Recovery
Leonardo DiCaprio Is Photographed Cleaning Up The Ocean While Filming An Environmental Documentary
Last week, the actor was photographed off the coast of Formentera, Spain, riding in a boat alongside a film crew and cleaning up garbage and other forms of plastic waste in the ocean. There was a team of children there, leading people to believe it was part of a teachable moment segment that may be included in an upcoming environmental documentary that reportedly will focus on an endangered seagrass species.
Leo was seen diving into the ocean in full scuba gear and chatting with other team members on a boat during a daytime clean-up that was captured on camera. This is not the first time he's been filmed talking about or taking action to help the environment, as one of his most famous philanthropic projects was his involvement in Before The Flood, a nature documentary on the effects of climate change.
While he's been praised for his charity work and his efforts to raise awareness towards environmental issues like climate change, global warming, and disaster relief, these new photographs have caused internet users to debate just how admirable of a figure he is, given he's still being seen using polluting, extravagant transportation methods like yachts and private jets.
Internet Users Call Leonardo A 'Hypocrite' For Using Yachts And Private Jets Amid His New Project
Like many other celebrities, the Oscar-award winner has used his fair share of luxurious perks, including parties and hangouts on a yacht and rides in a private jet. The Daily Mail once reported that the 39-year-old allegedly took 20 trips "across the nation and around the world" in a private plane in 2014, and he's since been photographed exiting jets to get to different events and locations.
He's also notorious for hosting and attending parties on expensive and fancy million-dollar yachts over the years. He was recently photographed celebrating his current girlfriend, Victoria Ceretti's birthday on a yacht in the Caribbean.
Just this past year, the Titanic star was highly criticized for reportedly fleeing the Los Angeles wildfires, which took the homes of many people, in a private jet before landing in Mexico with Ceretti, which led to internet users and climate activists paying a lot closer attention to his private life and actions.
When pictures of his latest ocean clean-up and documentary project in Spain were released on social media platforms like Instagram, people took to the comments section to call him out on his controversial actions, writing that it was an example of "blatant hypocrisy."
"Did he fly his jet or get there on his yacht?" sarcastically commented an Instagram user.
"How cool would this be [if] there was not a camera involved?" wrote another.
"I hope he also does this privately."
Some users defended the filmmaker, writing that they think he's "still an activist" and that it's admirable he's "showing the younger generation" how to help the ocean. However, still, people couldn't help but point out some of the irony.
"Are they cleaning up the pollution that his yachts cause?" asked an Instagram user.
