LA fires: Leonardo DiCaprio criticised for fleeing wildfire on private jet

Leonardo DiCaprio has been called out for a "hypocritical" move amid the LA wildfires. Photos / Getty Images, AFP

Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has been criticised for reportedly fleeing the Los Angeles wildfires in his private jet.

According to the Daily Mirror US, the actor landed in Mexico along with his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti after leaving LA, where more than 24 people have died and about 180,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

The city is home to countless other Hollywood stars, many of whom have lost properties, including Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

DiCaprio and Ceretti, who arrived in Cabo San Lucas last week, have faced backlash for escaping the fires in a private jet - particularly in light of the actor’s advocacy for the environment.

Private jets are known for creating up to 14 times more pollution than commercial planes.

One person labelled DiCaprio a “first rate hypocrite” on X, while another commented, “Climate warrior. What an idiot”.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been slammed for leaving LA for Mexico on a private jet. Photo / Getty Images

“Imagine being like that. Multi-million home burns down, fly to another city in a private jet to go to your other multi-million dollar home,” one wrote incredulously, while another joked, “What climate change?”

The couple was reportedly joined on the flight by DiCaprio’s dad George and his wife Peggy Ann Farrar.

DiCaprio founded the Leonardo DiCaprio foundation in 1998 in support of organisations championing sustainability, and has handed out more than $80 million worth of grants to help fight climate change.

Since the fires started in Los Angeles, countless people have lost their homes, with entire neighbourhoods engulfed in the blaze.

Those who have publicly shared their losses include some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Actor Mel Gibson told NewsNation how his Malibu home burned down, describing the experience as “devastating” as his neighbourhood was “completely toasted”.

Gibson was out of town when the fire started, and recalled wondering if his home was still standing.

“When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there ... obviously, it’s kind of devastating. It’s emotional.”

Paris Hilton revealed on social media that her Malibu home had been destroyed.

“To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly devastating,” she said.

Actor Billy Crystal said of his home of 45 years, which he shared with his wife Janice:

“We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”