DiCaprio Refutes Charges of 'Eco-Hypocrisy'

An online article on BreitBart.com reports an angry Leonardo DiCaprio refuting charges that he acted hypocritically in connection with "The 11th Hour," an eco-documentary that he wrote, produced, and narrated. DiCaprio was responding to a reporter's question after the premiere of the movie at the Cannes film festival. Asked whether he had taken a "fuel-guzzling jet" on his way to the festival, BreitBart has him responding sarcastically, "No, I took a train across the Atlantic."

The reporter followed up with a comment about many prominent environmentalists who use private jets with their heavy emissions while promoting environmental protection. DiCaprio replied that he had taken a commercial flight. "I try to travel commercial as much as I can," he replied, according to BreitBart.

Later in the interview, DiCaprio said that he was irritated with the media for pointing out the inconsistencies between the lives and statements of prominent environmentalists, such as former U. S. vice president Al Gore. Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth," won an Oscar this year, but Gore has been criticized for the high energy use at his personal home. "We're all trying the best we can, truly, we really are," said DiCaprio. According to BreitBart, DiCaprio went on to say, "Attacks on Al Gore, for example, I think are misdirected. Don't shoot the messenger, you know what I'm saying. If you're going to attack somebody on the way they conduct their life, let's talk about the big picture, let's see what big oil companies are doing."

DiCaprio, who has called himself an environmentalists for the last 10 years, caused some controversy in 2000 when activists charged that part of a national park in Thailand was damaged while DiCaprio was shooting the film, "The Beach." The film's crew denied the accusations.