Leonardo DiCaprio comes under fierce fire for investing in luxury hotel in Israel
The Hollywood actor, 50, owns a reported 10 percent stake in the upscale resort, which will be built along Herzliya Marina – a high-end beachfront.
The independent project, originally announced in 2018, is being developed by Israel's Hagag Group alongside businessmen Ahikam and Lior Cohen, per Complex.
The Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Committee granted final approval on July 27 after the project was first announced in 2018 and received preliminary deposit approval in 2024.
The massive $270 million complex will span a staggering 12.6 acres, far beyond the initial 2.5 acres, and will rise up to 14 stories high, per Globes.
It is set to include 365 hotel rooms, conference center, fine dining restaurant, swimming pool, and direct yacht access to the marina.
An additional two acres of underground space has been approved for parking and hotel operations.
Despite the scale, developers insist the hotel will be built with sustainability at its core.
Leo, who has spent years promoting environmental awareness, has aligned the project with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards.
This means it will implement sustainable practices across energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, materials use, and indoor environmental quality.
He promised an eco-friendly build that will 'work in partnership with nature,' per a 2018 statement by the actor, according to JFeed.
No official construction date has been released yet, but plans suggest the resort will become a major luxury destination.
The project initially got underway almost seven years ago, before the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in Gaza in October 2023.
The conflict is ongoing and has since escalated into a regional crisis, with mounting casualties, humanitarian catastrophe, and rising tensions.
Many fans of the actor found the hotel 'tone deaf' given the current state of Israel.
'Yikes. Not a great look. Won't be watching anything of his from now on,' a user wrote on a Reddit post.
Despite the project beginning almost seven years ago, many fans of the actor found the hotel 'tone deaf' given the current state of Israel
Despite the criticism, a few people expressed their excitement at the hotel's announcement
Others simply branded it as 'gross' and 'disgusting.'
Someone else commented a picture of a trash can lid, writing, 'Dropped your crown, Eco King.'
'So the environmental activism was just an act, should've known. If he has to build a luxury hotel, why there??' a person asked.
'I just don't see why people constantly fawn over this dude… he clearly doesn't care about the environment,' another slammed.
On a second thread about the hotel, someone wrote: 'Wow. I was never a huge fan of him, but yikes.'
Other comments read, 'Yikes, my guy,' 'What is with celebs being so openly gross?' and 'Eco-friendly? With a nation that is starving children? This is a choice.'
Someone else wrote: 'That's insane. Leo covered his face when walking with Jeff Bezos and his wife, but he has no shame in continuing his plans to build a luxury hotel in a country that is currently committing an ethnic cleansing on their neighbors.'
However, there were some who expressed their excitement at the hotel's announcement.
'Can't wait,' someone wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
'Amaaazing,' another shared.
Others appeared to toast to the decision using an iconic gif of Leo in his Great Gatsby role.
Leo has been a passionate advocate for the environment for years, speaking out about everything from climate change to wildlife protection.
Through his foundation, Re:wild, he's donated over $200 million to environmental causes around the world.
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