LEO LATCH REVEALED: CBS Show Exposes the Secret Model Entrance Named After DiCaprio
The writers on CBS’s Elsbeth are not afraid to go for the jugular, and their latest victim is none other than Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio. In a cutting piece of dialogue that perfectly skewers the actor’s notorious dating habits, the show just confirmed what we’ve all suspected about Leo’s secret nightlife with models.
In the Thursday, December , episode, protagonist Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) is investigating a murder linked to the fast-paced world of ‘s supermodels. During a crucial moment, supermodel Nadine (Laura Benanti) reveals a highly secretive entrance at a model house, giving it an instantly iconic, and deeply embarrassing, nickname.
“We used to call it the Leo latch in honor of you-know-who’s secret late-night forays,” Nadine teased on screen. The character didn’t stop there, twisting the knife with a classic Hollywood observation: “Men would do anything for models. It is so sweet—and sad.” That’s brutal, sharp, and totally accurate shade, broadcast to millions on prime-time television.
️ The DiCaprio Standard: Age Gaps and the Model Pipeline
The joke lands because DiCaprio’s love life has been a running tabloid narrative for nearly two decades. The -year-old star has an almost unbelievable track record of exclusively dating models, often maintaining a noticeable age gap between himself and his girlfriends. The list is long and littered with names like Bar Refaeli, Toni Garrn, Nina Agdal, and Kelly Rohrbach—all high-fashion models.
Before his split from Camila Morrone, the age dynamic was front-page news; Morrone was years his junior. Morrone, , once famously tried to deflect the constant attention, telling the Los Angeles Times that people “should be able to date who they want to date.” But even that defense couldn’t stop the relentless gossip machine.
Now, the star is dating model Vittoria Ceretti, . Ceretti herself addressed the public’s invasive focus on her relationship with Leo, telling Vogue France that she became the dreaded “‘girlfriend of'” someone with a massive following. “It’s something you learn. If what you’re experiencing is real, if you know you love each other, then there’s no reason to be alarmed,” she claimed. But the fact that they have to constantly defend their relationship only validates the Elsbeth joke.
“The ‘Leo Latch’ needs to be put on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s the most perfectly savage read on Leo’s dating history ever. The only thing missing from the model house is a ‘Must be under ‘ sign.” – @TMZ_ShadeMaster
Getting Real: Leo Reflects on Turning and Wasting Time
The timing of the Elsbeth dig is particularly fascinating, as DiCaprio has recently begun waxing philosophical about getting older and trying to avoid wasting time. Speaking to Esquire in August, the actor reflected on turning the big – and how it’s changed his perspective.
“It creates a feeling like you have a desire to just be more honest and not waste your time,” he admitted. He cited his mother as a role model for authenticity, saying she “just says exactly what she thinks and wastes no time. She spends no time trying to fake it.”
He continued, claiming that getting older made him more selective about his inner circle and his relationships—personal and professional. “It’s that you just don’t want to waste your time anymore,” he claimed. But is constantly dating models nearly half his age truly the best use of a famous, -year-old bachelor’s limited time, or is the “Leo latch” the place where time management goes to die?
️ The Art of the Subtle Shade: Elsbeth’s Unique Takedowns
The “Leo latch” is just the latest example of Elsbeth’s unique, fourth-wall-breaking style of celebrity shade. The CBS procedural has become notorious for sneaking in sly references and subtle takedowns of Hollywood elite and real-world controversies.
The writers understand that audiences love to see the rich and famous get knocked down a peg, and using an innocent-looking police procedural as a vehicle for viral celebrity roasts is pure genius. The show has successfully carved out a niche by confirming the wildest pieces of celebrity gossip—like the model entrances—in a mainstream format.
The question for the writers now is: Who’s next on the chopping block? And will DiCaprio ever acknowledge the “Leo latch,” or will he simply keep making his “secret late-night forays” and pretend the whole hilarious joke never happened?
Elsbeth airs on CBS Thursdays at p.m. ET, delivering gossip and crime, one celebrity takedown at a time.
