Leo shames Brazil prez in fire flap
Leonardo DiCaprio kept his cool amid a firestorm of folly from the Brazilian president.
A day after Jair Bolsonaro suggested DiCaprio helped finance the devastating wildfires in the Amazon rainforest last summer by donating to climate charities, the Oscarwinner responded on Instagram Saturday morning.
“At this time of crisis for the Amazon, I support the people of Brazil working to save their natural and cultural heritage,” the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star, 45, wrote. “They are an amazing, moving and humbling example of the commitment and passion needed to save the environment.
“The future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake and I am proud with the groups protecting them,” he continued. “While worthy of support, we did not fund the organizations targeted.”
The “Wolf of Wall Street” star shrugged off the pol’s nonsensical howl, adding, “I remain committed to supporting the Brazilian indigenous communities, local governments, scientists, educators and general public who are working tirelessly to secure the Amazon for the future of all Brazilians.”
Bolsonaro’s rant apparently was inspired by disputed socialmedia claims that the World Wildlife Fund paid $500,000 for photos of the July and August fires and used them to help raise money.
Right-winger Bolsonaro, a known climate-change denier, made his claim during a speech to his supporters Friday, saying, “DiCaprio is a cool guy, isn’t he? Giving money to set the Amazon on fire.”
The 64-year-old president’s beef with the Hollywood heartthrob seems to have started after the actor’s environmental organization, Earth Alliance, pledged $5 million to protect the Amazon last summer.