Brazil’s president lashes out at Leonardo DiCaprio about Amazon deforestation

By Bala Chambers

LONDON (AA) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro lashed out at a Hollywood star concerning deforestation in the Amazon.

Actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio originally shared a map and wrote on Twitter: "how extensive is deforestation in Amazonia, one of the most important places on the planet for people & wildlife? According to this map from @mapbiomas, the region has faced an onslaught of illegal deforestation at the hands of extractive industry over the last 3 years."

The Brazilian president quickly hit back on the platform.

"You again, Leo?," he wrote in English and said he would like to see him stop "spreading misinformation."

Bolsonaro claimed the actor's acknowledgement will likely boost his re-election chances, before adding: "I could tell you, again, to give up your yacht before lecturing the world, but I know progressives: you want to change the entire world but never yourselves, so I will let you off the hook."

Bolsonaro continued his tirade and questioned why DiCaprio does not share information on forest fires in North America or Europe.

"Between us, it's weird to see a dude who pretends to love the Planet paying more attention to Brazil than to the fires harming Europe and his own country. One may wonder if you're obsessed with my country (or its resources) or if you just believe Brazil is the only one on Earth," he wrote.

"You can carry on playing with your Hollywood star toys as we do our job," said Bolsonaro, who claimed that his government's average Amazon deforestation is lower than in previous administrations.

Earlier this month, Brazil's Environmental Ministry said the country has been robust in combating environmental crises but failed to mention that the Amazon Rainforest has suffered its highest deforestation rate in six years.

Bolsonaro has engaged with DiCaprio on social media since 2019 when the actor raised deforestation in the Amazon.

In November of that year, Bolsonaro accused DiCaprio of "giving money to set the Amazon on fire;"

In May, the president said DiCaprio should "keep quiet" about environmental issues in Brazil.

In 1998, DiCaprio founded his non-profit organization which seeks to promote environmental awareness and actively advocated "debt-for-nature swaps” -- a process involving purchasing foreign debt, converting it into local currency and using the proceeds to fund conservation initiatives.

DiCaprio is also an advocate of renewable energy, however, in the past his use of private jets has received accusations of hypocrisy because of their environmental footprint.