Academy Award-winning actor and climate change activist Leonardo DiCaprio has backed out of hosting a high-dollar fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at his Los Angeles home.
DiCaprio cited a change in production scheduling for the documentary Before the Flood, which he is producing, as reason for ditching the fundraiser.
He asked movie star pals Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake to host the $33,400-per guest luncheon at the couple’s home in the Hollywood Hills on Tuesday, Page Six reported.
The Justice Department recently filed a complaint against DiCaprio and his eponymous foundation for the actor allegedly playing a part in an embezzlement case that took $3 million from 1MDB, a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The complaint does not target DiCaprio but raises questions about transparency and accountability with his foundation.
The Hollywood Reporter (THR) said that it was unclear whether the Justice Department would try and recoup the 1MDB money donated to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The Justice Department did not offer a comment to THR.
Some attendees of the fundraiser are wondering if DiCaprio’s foundation troubles are the real reason he is no longer hosting the event for Clinton, according to Page Six.
DiCaprio’s foundation woes come at the same time that scrutiny has intensified around the Clinton Foundation. Judicial Watch on Monday released 725 pages of State Department documents, some which show that long-time Clinton aide Huma Abedin set up a meeting between the crown prince of Bahrain and Clinton after the crown prince asked Clinton Foundation executive Douglas Band. The meeting took 24 hours to set up.
Bill Clinton announced that he would leave the Clinton Foundation should Hillary Clinton be elected. The foundation also said that it would no longer accept donations from foreign and corporate entities.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for the Clinton Foundation to close its doors immediately.