Australia is facing disaster as huge swaths of the country continue to burn in of the largest bushfires ever seen on the continent. Celebrities are taking notice, and have been flooding social media with calls to donate and bring awareness.
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Talk about a Gatsby sized donation!
Leonardo DiCaprio, who spent time in Australia while filming “The Great Gatsby,” donated $3 million via The Earth Alliance, an environmental organization that DiCaprio oversees.
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Chris Hemsworth had pledged a whopping $1 million to the firefighters in Australia. “I’m going to put forward a million dollars and was hoping you can contribute in any shape or form. That money goes directly to the firefighters, the people on the front lines, the people who have suffered, the communities that have taken a hit and who are in desperate need of our support,” He said.
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Australian-born couple Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman donated $500,000 to volunteer firefighters, according to Angela Bishop of 10 News.
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Selena Gomez, a frequent visitor to Australia, encouraged her fans to donate. “Absolutely devastated by the fires in Australia. Praying for everyone affected and all of the first responders. I’m making a donation and would love if you would consider doing the same if you can.”
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Naomi Watts, who lived in Sydney from the age of 14 until her move to the United States, posted a heartfelt tribute to those who have been affected. “The fires have been truly horrendous. It’s so upsetting and worrying. So much wildlife already lost. And still much of the summer ahead. My heart goes out to those who’ve lost loved ones and homes. Big gratitude to the brave firemen who literally haven’t stopped during the holidays!! Heartbroken for all the animals, plants and land …”
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Rebel Wilson teamed up with the players of Magic Millions Polo for an event that raised money for the bushfire relief effort. Wilson auctioned off two lunches with her for at $50,000 a piece, and promised to make her famous pavlova for the occasion.
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Kylie Minogue posted a photo of her in Australian bush along with the caption, “Last year I had the incredible opportunity of visiting some of the many beautiful places in my homeland for the first time.
Returning home to such devastation throughout much of the country is heartbreaking.
As a family, we’ve donated $500,000 towards the immediate firefighting efforts and the ongoing support which will be required.
Big or small, from near or far, any support will help those affected by the devastating bushfires.”
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The Australian leg of Pink’s Funhouse tour broke the record for the biggest tour in the history of the country, making over $80 million. So it’s no wonder she’s decided to give back. She wrote on Twitter, “I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”
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Kim Kardashian and her sister, Kylie Jenner, both re-tweeted Bernie Sanders after he detailed the destruction left by the fires, which have killed half a billion animals and scorched 15 million acres. Kardashian’s fans called her out for only giving lip service to the cause, instead of her ample cash. She replied to the commenters, saying, “Nothing gets me more heated than to see people think they know what we donated to and to think we have to publicize everything.” But she stopped short of confirming she had donated.
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Kylie Jenner is one member of the Kardashian family that confirmed her donation.
“I knew that I really wanted to help, so I pledged a million dollars to you guys over there.
I wanted to help five different organizations and just cover the animals, the homes … the people and everyone affected, so God bless you,” she added. “I’m thinking about you.”
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Bindi Irwin kept her father’s spirit alive with a message of hope. “With so many devastating fires within Australia, my heart breaks for the people and wildlife who have lost so much. I wanted to let you know that we are SAFE. There are no fires near us @AustraliaZoo or our conservation properties. Our Wildlife Hospital is busier than ever, though, having officially treated over 90,000 patients. My parents dedicated our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to my beautiful grandmother. We will continue to honour her by being Wildlife Warriors and saving as many lives as we can.”
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Bette Midler took aim at Australia’s prime minister amid the disaster. “Pity the poor #Australians, their country ablaze, and their rotten @ScottMorrisonMP saying, ‘This is not the time to talk about Climate Change. We have to grow our economy’,” Midler tweeted in a colorful rant to her 1.9 million followers.
“What an idiot,” she continued. “What good is an economy in an uninhabitable country? Lead, you f–kwit!”
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