Leonardo DiCaprio is perhaps Hollywood’s most iconic celebrity and one of the most outspoken voices on environmental issues, commanding respect from all corners of the world. He recently came under fire after being less than gracious to a traditional Fijian farewell serenade. On November 20, 2024, while the celebrity was departing from a luxury hotel in Nadi, Fiji, a now-viral TikTok video catching the moment has opened up an extremely contentious debate about cultural sensitivity and celebrity behavior on foreign soil.
Wearing a dark cap, tracksuit, and sunglasses, DiCaprio was seen leaving the hotel while the hotel staff performed a farewell serenade for him-an extremely deeply set Fijian tradition showing appreciation and respect. DiCaprio didn’t make a stop to acknowledge the performers; rather, he seemed to receive a call and walked at a fast pace, brushing past the group without looking at them. He directly exited to a waiting car, leaving many viewers dismayed.
This serenade, replete with singing in harmony and rhythmic clapping, forms part of Fijian hospitality; thus, for many viewers, the actor had acted immensely disappointingly.
The TikTok clip went viral in hours, viewed by millions, and sparked an outrage. Social media users labeled DiCaprio’s behavior as “snobbish” and “disrespectful,” and one Fijian commenter lamented, “Don’t waste ya energy, my Fiji whānau, he’s so disrespectful omg.”
Others believed the call was just a pretense to get out of the presence of the staff. A second case involved a sarcastic comment: “Haha, the old ‘fake call’ act. Gets in the car, drops the phone.”
Some defended DiCaprio, proposing that he may have not known or cared about the significance of the tradition or simply wanted to avoid public attention. “It could’ve been his first time in Fiji,” one fan rationalized, further saying, “He probably didn’t want to cause a scene.”
This is definitely not the first time an onus of shame has fallen on DiCaprio’s actions. Only days before the Fiji trip, he had celebrated a 50th birthday with a small but extremely starry party in Los Angeles. Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, Paris Hilton, and Jamie Foxx were among the many who attended. The party was indeed glamorous, but it also received neighbourhood complaints about noise and traffic congestion.
DiCaprio’s moves in Fiji, put against his big birthday celebrations, have whipped up debate on how much cultural sensitivity the public should expect from celebrities especially when they are abroad.
The incident has once again triggered debates about the behavior of public figures when interacting with foreign traditions. Critics say global celebrities like DiCaprio, who are popularly seen as champions of environmental and cultural causes, have an additional responsibility to uphold local mores. On the other hand, some of the fans have called for understanding, citing the pressures celebrities face in trying to keep private and manage public expectations.
So far, DiCaprio has not yet spoken out publicly concerning the incident; neither have his representatives, thus that leaves open questions about his take on the matter. With DiCaprio at the forefront, as a cultural and environmental presence, this incident opens wider perspectives on how his public persona and private actions align. For some, it was little more than a misstep; for others, it is an opportunity to be taken to illustrate the respect that should be paid to cultural traditions, be they as known or as alien as the morning sun rising over familiar horizons.
