The Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala, often seen as a precursor to the Oscars, faced a major celebrity setback this weekend. Leonardo DiCaprio, the evening’s most anticipated honoree, was forced to skip the event due to sudden travel restrictions and airspace closures.
The Oscar-winning actor was scheduled to receive the prestigious Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in One Battle After Another. However, festival organizers confirmed that DiCaprio remained stranded in St. Barts, where he had been vacationing with family, as flights were grounded.
The Cause: Geopolitical Tensions and FAA Ground Stops
The disruption coincided with a massive geopolitical shift. On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been taken into U.S. custody. This major international operation led to immediate security protocols affecting Southern California airspace.
- FAA Statement: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) reported that an FAA air traffic control issue caused a ground stop for departing flights across multiple Southern California airports.
- Restricted Airspace: Organizers cited “airspace issues linked to a fast-developing geopolitical situation” as the primary reason DiCaprio’s private travel plans were thwarted.
Honors in Absentia
Despite his physical absence, the festival proceeded with the tribute. A spokesperson for the event stated:
“Leonardo DiCaprio is unable to join us in person tonight due to unexpected travel disruptions… While we will miss celebrating with him, we are honored to recognize his exceptional work and lasting contributions to cinema.”
DiCaprio’s latest project, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, continues to dominate the awards season, having recently secured Best Picture from the National Society of Film Critics and a Best Actor nod at the Critics’ Choice Awards.