Bolsonaro says DiCaprio ‘paid for Amazon fires’

Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president, has claimed that Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio financed fires being set off in the Amazon rainforest.

Bolsonaro appeared to be commenting on social media postings claiming the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) had paid for images taken by volunteer firefighters that it then supposedly used to solicit donations, including a $500,000 (£386,000) contribution from DiCaprio.

Both the WWF and DiCaprio deny this. “This Leonardo DiCaprio is a cool guy, right? Giving money to torch the Amazon,” Bolsonaro said.

His remarks followed last week’s arrest of four volunteer firefighters, whom police accused of staging fires to document them and drum up more donations.