New York Daily News

Leo shames Brazil prez in fire flap

- BY JAMI GANZ

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.

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