Leonardo DiCaprio falsely accused of financing Amazon fires

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has accused Leonardo DiCaprio of financing deliberate fires in the Amazon rainforest – despite producing no evidence.

The Hollywood actor has previously pledged $5m through his environmental organisation to help the Amazon rainforest.

The populist nationalist reportedly told his supporters: “This Leonardo DiCaprio’s a cool guy, isn’t he? Giving money for the Amazon to be torched.”

Tens of thousands of fires – many of which are believed to have been deliberate – raged through the Amazon over the summer.

Wildlife Fund (WWF) paid for photographs taken by volunteer firefighters to solicit donations.

DiCaprio was said to have made a $300,000 (£230,000) donation.

The four volunteer firefighters accused of being involved were arrested and subsequently released on Thursday following a public outcry.

There appeared to be no evidence to back up the accusations.

DiCaprio has denied having donated to the WWF but voiced his support for “the people of Brazil working to save their natural and cultural heritage”.

The actor said: “While worthy of support, we did not fund the organisations targeted.”

The WWF’s Brazil office also dismissed the claims, saying: “WWF Brazil rejects the attacks on its partners and the lies involving its name, including a series of lie-based social media attacks such as the purchase of photographs linked to a donation from the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Earlier this year, DiCaprio’s environmental organisation Earth Alliance pledged $5m (£3.9m) to help the rainforest.

Brazil’s president has often targeted environmental campaigners and NGOs who have spoken out about protecting the Amazon.

Mr Bolsonaro said in a Facebook live in August that “everything indicates” NGOs were travelling to the Amazon to “set fire” to the forest.- skynews.com