Nowmight be the perfect opportunity to secure a table at Tatiana, as numerous celebrities and elites find themselves stranded in paradise amid Venezuela’s ongoing crisis. US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy closed airspace around the South American nation late Saturday following a dramatic operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro, grounding commercial flights and private jets intended to return stars and wealthy vacationers home after New Year’s celebrations.
Notable figures reportedly stranded in St. Barts and nearby luxury destinations include Queen Latifah, Mike Tyson, Ming Lee Simmons, Natalie Portman, and nightlife personality Richie Akiva. During the People’s Choice Awards, Chelsea Handler highlighted Leonardo DiCaprio’s absence from the Palm Springs International Film Festival due to the travel disruption.
Desperate to leave, some celebrities attempted boat trips to neighboring islands like Saint Martin and Anguilla, hoping to find functioning airports. However, many were turned away and forced to return. With limited options, stranded travelers overwhelmed local accommodations—Belmond’s Cap Juluca in Anguilla and other high-end hotels were fully booked, leaving managers scrambling to handle the influx.
New York hospitality figures even took to social media seeking group charters to organize return flights. Comedian Jeff Ross, who performed at Beacher’s Madhouse in St. Barts, joked online about “rowing to New York” after getting stranded, though event founder Jeff Beacher secured a private flight out Sunday.
Meanwhile, Richie Akiva lifted spirits by hosting a party dubbed “F–k Me We Can’t Fly,” inspired by DJ David Guetta’s “F–k Me, I’m Famous” events, at St. Barts’ Barry nightclub. Cuba Gooding Jr. and girlfriend Claudine DeNiro remained stranded in Anguilla but expected rescue via a private Blade flight Tuesday morning.
DiCaprio narrowly escaped St. Barts to attend the Critics Choice Awards, where Handler quipped, “It was just like Titanic, but worse—because Jeff Bezos was there.” Portman faced a more pressing predicament: she reportedly missed critical work commitments, including preparations for the Golden Globes, where she’s nominated for her role in May December.