> At a Glance
> – Leonardo DiCaprio canceled his Palm Springs Film Awards appearance on Jan. 3 after airspace restrictions grounded Caribbean flights.
> – The U.S. military strikes on Venezuela-ordered by President Donald Trump to target President Nicolás Maduro-triggered region-wide flight cancellations.
> – DiCaprio, vacationing in St. Barths, was to accept the Desert Palm Achievement Award for One Battle After Another.
> – Why it matters: Travel chaos from geopolitical conflict is now directly disrupting Hollywood’s awards season.
A Caribbean vacation turned into an unexpected lock-in for Leonardo DiCaprio when U.S. military action against Venezuela closed regional airspace and forced the star to skip Saturday’s Palm Springs International Film Awards.
How Venezuela Strikes Froze Flights
President Donald Trump announced “large-scale strikes” early Saturday aimed at dismantling Nicolás Maduro’s regime, prompting the FAA to restrict airspace across the eastern Caribbean.
Within hours:
- No commercial flights overflew Venezuelan territory
- Airlines scrapped hundreds of services to Puerto Rico, Aruba, Virgin Islands and smaller Lesser Antilles islands
- Palm Springs International briefly halted departures under a ground stop lifted only at 4:20 p.m. local time
DiCaprio’s Last-Minute Cancellation
Stuck in St. Barths with girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti and friends including Tom Brady, the 51-year-old actor sent regrets through festival organizers.
A spokesperson told Variety:
> “Leonardo DiCaprio is unable to join us in person tonight due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace.”
The festival still presented his Desert Palm Achievement Award, praising the “riveting and emotionally charged performance” that anchors Paul Thomas Anderson’s black comedy-thriller One Battle After Another.
Upcoming Trophy Circuit
Even without the Palm Springs trophy in hand, DiCaprio remains a leading awards contender:
- Critics Choice Awards – Jan. 4 (Best Actor nominee)
- Golden Globe Awards – Jan. 11 (Best Actor, Musical or Comedy nominee)
Key Takeaways
- U.S. military operations in Venezuela instantly reshaped Caribbean aviation and entertainment calendars
- Airspace closures demonstrate how geopolitical events can ripple into celebrity schedules
- DiCaprio’s absence did not diminish the festival’s praise for his performance
- Awards-season momentum continues with two major ceremonies within the next week
Hollywood’s glitz meets global geopolitics, proving that even A-listers can’t outmaneuver closed runways.
