Leonardo DiCaprio presented a humanitarian prize in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The actor, 49, attended the 2024 Hilton Humanitarian award show where he presented the top prize to Amazon Frontlines.
In a speech to the event, he praised the leader of the indigenous community, Nemonte Nenquimo, as a ‘fierce advocate for human rights’ before handing her the prize, whilst also giving a sweet shout-out to his mother Irmelin who was in the audience.
Leonardo described being at the event as his ‘greatest honour’ as he drew attention to the importance of protecting the Amazon rainforest after coming under fire in recent years for exhibiting eco-hypocrisy with his lavish lifestyle.
Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, attended the 2024 Hilton Humanitarian award show where he presented the top prize to Amazon Frontlines
In a speech to the event, he praised the leader of the indigenous community, Nemonte Nenquimo, as a ‘fierce advocate for human rights’ (pictured: Peter Laugharn, president and CEO, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Linda Hilton, Mitch Anderson, executive director and co-founder, Amazon Frontlines, Nemonte Nenquimo, co-founder, Amazon Frontlines)
The Hollywood actor is known for his humanitarian and environmental work and is said to have funnelled £75 million ($97 million) of his fortune into a global conservation project (pictured at UN in 2016)
He said the rainforest was ‘a forest upon which all of our survival depends.’
During the speech, the actor described the climate activist’s projects and revealed he had been part of the foundation after setting up his own alongside his mother.
Leonardo also gave his mother, who was in the audience a special mention, smiling and chuckling as the audience applauded her appearance.
And Leo has been a keen supporter of the group’s cause, taking to Facebook last month to share a post supporting the indigenous community group on their latest project.
He wrote: ‘My friends Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson have created something remarkable: a written story of Indigenous life and struggle that embraces the deep oral storytelling tradition from which it springs.
‘We Will Be Jaguars is a beautiful memoir of the Amazon rainforest, resistance, and love.
‘I have followed and supported their work from their early days building potable water systems in Indigenous communities impacted by oil contamination, to the founding of Amazon Frontlines and Alianza Ceibo Amazonia, to their monumental legal victories that now protect millions of acres of Indigenous territory from devastation. Their new book is both a gift and a call to action.’
The actor is known for his humanitarian and environmental work and established The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 aged 24 with the mission of bringing attention and funding to the protection of biodiversity, ocean and forest conservation, and climate change.
The actor also serves on the board of several environmental protection organisations including the World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Pristine Seas and Oceans 5.
He is also said to have funnelled £75 million ($97 million) of his mammoth wealth into a global conservation project to protect endangered species and land from developers.
Leo has been honoured with the Clinton Global Citizen Award for his philanthropic work and is a United Nations Messenger of Peace for climate change.
But he has come under fire in recent years, being accused of exhibiting eco-hypocrisy with his lavish lifestyle.
Along with his numerous houses and propensity for hosting luxury yacht parties, he has been particularly criticised for his use of gas-guzzling private jets for lengthy trips in short spaces of time.
During the speech, the actor described the climate activist’s projects and revealed he had been part of the foundation after setting up his own alongside his mother (pictured)
Leo has been a keen supporter of the group’s cause, taking to Facebook last month to share a post supporting the indigenous community group on their latest project
But the star has come under fire in recent years, being accused of exhibiting eco-hypocrisy with his lavish lifestyle (pictured in May last year)
Abeing ridiculed for an 8,000 mile trip via private jet in 2016 to accept an environmental award, the star travelled to the 2021 COP26 summit commercially (pictured with Sonia Guajajara)
In 2016, Leo was ridiculed for an 8,000 mile trip via private jet from Europe to New York City to accept an award for his environmental activism.
Carbon emissions for private jets vary, but by some accounts are more than 37 times higher than flying commercial.
After causing a wave of controversy with the trip, the Titanic star appeared keen to make amends in 2021 – travelling commercially to Glasgow for the COP26 eco summit.
But last year he appeared to be back up to his old ways and once again was accused of double-standards.
In March, Leo attended the Green Carpet Fashion Award alongside leaders in sustainable fashion and activism in Los Angeles.
But his appearance came after he clocking up over 12,000 airmiles in two weeks while enjoying nights out with numerous models and flying in between the US and cities such as London, Milan, and Paris.