Leonardo DiCaprio faces backlash over Israel hotel project amid Gaza conflict
-AFP
Leonardo DiCaprio is facing backlash after reports linked him to the co-financing of a luxury eco-hotel in Israel.
The project, planned near Tel Aviv in Herzliya Pituach, is being developed by Israeli hotel chain Brown Hotels and is expected to focus on sustainability and high-end tourism.
DiCaprio’s involvement reportedly comes through Regeneration.VC, the environmental-focused investment firm he co-founded. Brown Hotels’ website names Regeneration.VC as a strategic partner in the development.
The timing of the announcement has drawn scrutiny, coming during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. Online critics have questioned the optics of investing in an Israeli luxury venture as violence and humanitarian concerns persist in Gaza.
Activists Slam Leonardo DiCaprio's Decision to Build Luxury Hotel in Israel
— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) July 30, 2025
Activists and human rights campaigners have condemned Leonardo DiCaprio's decision to construct a 14-storey luxury beachfront hotel at the Herzliya Marina near Tel Aviv.
"DiCaprio is actively… pic.twitter.com/4bElYvWIfh
Leonardo DiCaprio calls himself an environmentalist and yet he’s building a hotel for israel who not only has been murdering and forced starving palestinians during this genocide israel also has dropped so many bombs on gaza that the environmental damage can take up to 40 years… https://t.co/qM6tJ2GRYt
— jason 🦥🪐 (@spongebobsloth) July 29, 2025
The news seems simple: @LeoDiCaprio is building a hotel in #Israel. But when you hold a UN Peace Ambassador title and stay silent on #Gaza for 2 years, this move defines peak shamelessness, greed & inhumanity. pic.twitter.com/OO6pRpKxTM
Brown Hotels continues to promote the project as part of a broader push for eco-conscious hospitality in the region.
As of now, neither DiCaprio nor Regeneration.VC has issued a statement in response to the backlash or to address concerns around the broader political context.
DiCaprio, known for his environmental activism and philanthropy, has previously championed sustainability through both personal initiatives and public-facing projects.
His link to a commercial venture in Israel during an active conflict has raised complex questions about the intersection of celebrity investments and geopolitical awareness.