Leonardo DiCaprio pictured sticking up his middle finger after collecting long awaited Best Actor Oscar

Leonardo DiCaprio was kept waiting 25 years for his well-deserved Oscar win. So when he was spotted sticking up his middle finger last night after being named Best Actor, many fans were wondering if the gesture was a message for the Academy. 

Taking to Twitter, Kyle Raugh posted: "Leo won but threw a sneaky middle finger up due to him not winning an #Oscar previously #IApplaud."

Alec Brown then commented: "I think the most impressive thing about Leo's Oscar win is that he subtly gave us all the finger for taking so long."

Patrick O'Shaughnessy tweeted: "Nice speech, Leo. Also, nice choice on the subtle finger gesture."

However, some were quick to question if the gesture was perhaps unintentional.

Another fan posted: "Do you guys think Leo's middle finger was on purpose or that's just how he was holding stuff? I think I do that too and it's unintentional."

The 41-year-old actor had been nominated four times previously for an Oscar over a career spanning 25 years. But he was favourite to finally take home the best actor Academy Award this year for his gruelling portrayal of a fur trapper left for dead in an icy wilderness after being mauled by a bear.