Leonardo DiCaprio is speaking out against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s baseless allegation that the actor is fueling fires in the Amazon by bankrolling nonprofits he claims are to blame for the destruction.
DiCaprio said Saturday in a statement shared on Instagram, "The future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake and I am proud to stand with the groups protecting them. While worthy of support, we do not fund the organizations targeted." Continuing, he added that he is “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.”
Last week, Bolsonaro told supporters in Brasilia that DiCaprio was “giving money to set the Amazon on fire," without offering evidence of his claims. The president raised similar accusations during a Facebook Live broadcast in which he claimed DiCaprio is “collaborating with the burning of the Amazon” and waging a “campaign against Brazil.”
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