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Leonardo DiCaprio Hitches Ride on Private Jet to Accept Environmental Award in New York City, Flies Back to France

Leonardo Dicaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ralph Lauren Riverkeeper 50th Anniversary Ball in NYC on May 18 2016.Neil Rasmus/BFA/REX/Shutterstock

Leonardo DiCaprio took a private jet to New York City on Wednesday, May 18, to accept an environmental award — and then hopped back on the plane to return to France just one day later.

The Academy Award winner, 41, was spotted in Cannes earlier this week, just days before he headed to NYC, where he was honored alongside Ralph Lauren at the Riverkeeper Fishermen’s Ball on Wednesday.

Leonardo Dicaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France in May 16, 2016. AKM-GSI

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The next day, he flew back to France to attend the 2016 amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, where he auctioned off a week-long stay at his Palm Springs residence for $336,000.

The actor’s rep tells Us, “He was asked to speak at both Riverkeeper and amfAR events, but the only way to attend the two fundraisers was to hitch a ride with flights that were already planned. Leo helped both events raise millions, donated his own funds, auctioned off his house and had speaking roles in both programs.”

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DiCaprio, who has been an advocate for environmentalism for many years, famously used his acceptance speech at the 2016 Oscars in February to address the issue of climate change.

“Climate change is real,” he told the audience while accepting the Best Actor award for his role in The Revenant. “It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species. We need to work together to stop procrastinating. … Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.”

Leonardo Dicaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio returns to Cap d’Antibes, France on May 19th for amfAR’s 23rd Cinema Against AIDS Gala. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

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In 2014, the Wolf of Wall Street star reportedly took six private jet fights in a six-week timespan. That same year, he also rented the world’s fifth largest yacht to watch the World Cup in Brazil.

Fans and critics alike took to social media on Friday to criticize the actor. Some users called him a hypocrite, while another noted, “DiCaprio flies from Cannes to NYC in private jet for environmentalism award. If only his self-awareness were as big as his carbon footprint.”

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