Leonardo DiCaprio movie sparks backlash over “forcefully removing” homeless people
Paramount Pictures/FOX40An upcoming movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio has sparked backlash for allegedly “forcefully removing” homeless people from an area in Sacramento to shoot scenes.
Leonardo DiCaprio is widely regarded to be one of the great actors of his generation. Having started out as a child star in the likes of Growing Pains and The New Lassie, he soon enough began proving his acting chops in more serious fare such as The Basketball Diaries, Romeo + Juliet, and Titanic.
Since then, he’s gone on to become one of Martin Scorsese’s frequent collaborators, leading cinematic hits Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and, more recently, Killers of the Flower Moon.
But while his on-screen talents are widely accepted, his personal life has raised controversy over the years. Giving a speech about climate change during his 2016 Oscars win despite his frequent use of a private jet led to accusations of hypocrisy. Then there’s his “25 rule” when it comes to dating. And now he’s under scrutiny once more.
Leonardo DiCaprio movie “forcefully removes” homeless people
DiCaprio is set to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s new movie, temporarily titled BC Project – but the film has sparked backlash after it allegedly cleared a city square in Sacramento of homeless people so it could shoot scenes, giving them less than a day’s notice.
According to Radar Online, the homeless community at Cesar Chavez Plaza were “said to be forcefully removed” from their tents to make way for the movie, despite the fact that a major rainstorm was looming.
Further reports have exposed new details about the incident, with FOX40 stating that filming for BC Project took place in the area over four days.
Producers set up signs shortly before featuring three dates – February 10, 12, and 13 – adding: “Please be advised that filming will take place in this area on the above dates. A film permit has been obtained by an individual or organization and filming/recording will take place in this area.”
FOX40 went on to say that green stickers were placed on “at least six tents,” letting the people who reside in them know that they “need to pack up and leave, and they only have 24 hours to do so.”
Local Charles Johnson, who is currently homeless, told the outlet: “They came by yesterday and put the sticker on and then today they came by to make sure I’d be up in time.”
According to city spokesperson Tim Swanson, those who were temporarily displaced were “offered connection to services and placement” at the city’s Roseville Road shelter-and-service campus. Two people have reportedly accepted the placement so far.
The news has sparked an angry reaction, with DiCaprio and the film’s producers facing backlash. “Why not just film elsewhere?” said one, while another wrote, “What a joke.” A third added, “Here’s an idea, why not sort the situation out?”
Another described DiCaprio as “vile,” while a fifth chimed in, “Sacramento is displacing homeless for a Leonardo DiCaprio movie… Yet the fake liberal DiCaprio says nothing.”
Others have taken aim at Californian officials after a similar situation unfolded during China president Xi Jinping’s San Francisco visit last year.
“Wow look at that the only time California wants to fix the homeless problem is when world leaders visit and Hollywood wants to film a movie,” said one. “The people running this state are evil.”