Leonardo DiCaprio, a prominent climate activist and United Nations Messenger of Peace for climate change, was spotted in Venice on Friday attending the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez—an event that reportedly drew more than 90 private jets.
DiCaprio, who has long championed climate action, was photographed trying to shield his face with a baseball cap as he boarded a boat on the day of the nuptials. His presence raised eyebrows given the high-emissions arrival of dozens of celebrity guests, including Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and members of the Kardashian/Jenner family, according to The Guardian.
While it’s unclear if DiCaprio flew private, the scale of the event ignited backlash. Environmental group Greenpeace staged a protest in St. Mark’s Square, unfurling a banner featuring Bezos’s face with the message: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.”
Bezos and Sanchez reportedly hosted a three-day celebration with 200 invited guests. The festivities were met with criticism from locals concerned about Venice’s vulnerability to flooding and environmental degradation. The city, built atop a fragile lagoon ecosystem, has sunk nine inches in the last century, and scientists warn that rising sea levels driven by climate change are accelerating the damage. (RELATED: Milwaukee State rep Warns Time is Running out on “street takeover” Law)
Despite the lavish setting, Bezos pledged millions of euros to Corila, a research group studying the Venetian lagoon, in coordination with the city’s mayor.
DiCaprio’s appearance, however, renewed scrutiny of Hollywood’s climate posturing. In his 2016 documentary Before the Flood, he warned of rising sea levels and interviewed then-President Obama on climate policy. At the 2014 UN Climate Summit, DiCaprio declared, “Every week, we’re seeing new and undeniable climate events… and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates.”
In addition to his advocacy, DiCaprio serves on the boards of multiple environmental organizations including the World Wildlife Fund and Natural Resources Defense Council. (RELATED: Milwaukee Council Establishes Gender Terminology for The Milwaukee Fire Department)
Critics say actions speak louder than speeches—and flying to an extravagant celebration packed with private jets may be a poor look for a man who’s made fighting climate change his brand.