International celebrities have called for Australian aid as the bushfire crisis continues, with tens of millions of dollars being raised so far.
The fires have so far claimed at least 24 lives, left dozens injured including hero firefighters and volunteers, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and left 500 million animals dead.
Reality star Lisa Vanderpump became the latest public figure to use her profile to raise awareness on Monday, urging her millions of Instagram followers to donate.
‘It’s in times like these when we all need to come together and help our fellow humans and these poor defenseless creatures,’ wrote Lisa, alongside a photo of a distressed kangaroos drinking water after fleeing a nearby bushfire.
Crisis: International celebrities have called for Australian aid as the bushfire crisis continues, with tens of millions of dollars raised so far, as donations flood in. Pictured: Lisa Vanderpump
‘It’s in times like these when we all need to come together,’ wrote Lisa on Sunday, while sharing a picture of a distressed kangaroos receiving water after fleeing a nearby bushfire
Pink, real name Alecia Beth Moore, said on Saturday that she is ‘totally devastated’ and is pledging a donation of $500,000.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, whose NSW Southern Highlands mansion is ‘under threat’ from the fires, also donated $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services (RFS) over the weekend.
Billionaire Australian pub baron Justin Hemmes followed the trend on Sunday by donating half a million dollars to the RFS, too.
Crisis: American pop star Pink (pictured) said on Saturday that she is ‘totally devastated’ and is pledging a donation of $500,000
‘My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz,’ tweeted Pink, real name Alecia Beth Moore
‘Devastated’: Australian actress Nicole Kidman (L) and Keith Urban (R), whose NSW Southern Highlands mansion is ‘under threat’ from the fires, donated $500,000 over the weekend
Giving: Similarly, billionaire Australian pub baron, Justin Hemmes (pictured), announced on Sunday that he would be also donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services
Selena Gomez encouraged her fans to donate last week, sharing a link with her 164 million Instagram followers pleading with them for support.
‘Absolutely devastated by the fires in Australia,’ the 27-year-old singer wrote.
‘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.’
Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery also shared an emotional Instagram video in which he pleaded with people to help Australia. He has raised $220,000 so far.
‘Australia is in dire need of your help. There are so many communities on fire right now, half a billion animals have died and we’ve lost an area the size of Belgium to wildfires,’ he said.
Giving: Australian comedian Celeste Barber (pictured) has raised $32 million via her Facebook fundraiser, and spent the weekend buying supplies for firefighters on the frontline
‘Absolutely devastated’:American singer Selena Gomez (pictured) encouraged her fans to donate last week, sharing a link to her 164 million Instagram followers
Calling for help: Perth-born actor and Stranger Things star, Dacre Montgomery (pictured), has made an emotional video pleading people to help Australia, raising $220,000 so far
Ellen DeGeneres shared an impassioned post to her 81 million followers on Saturday, urging them to ‘make the connection’ between the bushfires and climate change.
‘Australia is on fire. And the summer there has only just begun. 2019 was a year of record heat and record drought. Today the temperature outside Sydney was 48,9°C. 500 million (!!) animals are estimated dead because of the bushfires,’ she began.
‘And yet. All of this still has not resulted in any political action. Because we still fail to make the connection between the climate crisis and increased extreme weather events and nature disasters like the #AustraliaFires. That has to change.’
‘Has to change’: Ellen Degeneres (pictured) shared a post to her 81 million followers on Saturday, urging them to ‘make the connection’ between the bushfires and climate change
Wildlife: Kim Kardashian (left) alerted her fans on Instagram Stories to the fact that ‘over half a billion animals have been killed in Australia’
Australian comedian Celeste Barber’s Facebook fundraiser has raised a staggering $32 million so far, with the figure growing by the minute.
Celeste – who is known for her parodies of celebrities’ Instagram posts – also spent the weekend buying much-needed supplies for firefighters on the frontline.
Rebel Wilson threw her support behind the bushfire first responders by auctioning off a special lunch with herself on Sunday, raising $100,000 in the process.
Last week, Kim Kardashian alerted her 156 million Instagram followers to the fact that ‘over half a billion animals have been killed in Australia’.
Kim’s sisters Kourtney, Khloé and Kendall Jenner have also expressed their sadness.
Distraught: Kim’s sisters Kourtney, Khloe and Kendall Jenner also expressed their sadness, with Kourtney tweeting this picture of a koala being recused from a fire
Sweet video: Kelly Rowland (pictured), who is a judge on the Australian version of The Voice, shared a video to Instagram where she and her son Titan, five, sent their well-wishes
‘Australia is burning’: Chris Brown (pictured) took to Instagram to post a heartbreaking message sent by a fan, begging him to help spread awareness
Kelly Rowland, who is a judge on the Australian version of The Voice, shared a video to Instagram in which she and her son Titan, five, sent their well-wishes.
The 38-year-old star wrote in the post’s caption: ‘As the world welcomes a new year, let us keep all those affected by the horrific fires in Australia in our hearts.
‘While the devastation to OUR environment, the wildlife and of course the human toll grows, let’s hold each other up with love and prayer.’
Chris Brown – not to be confused with the Australian vet of the same name – revealed on Instagram that a fan had begged him to spread awareness of the bushfires.
The singer, 30, re-posted the fan’s message, which read: ‘Australia is burning please help us. We really need any kind of help [or] donations or awareness spread.’
Special mention: Ryan Reynolds (left) made special mention of the Australian Red Cross and New South Wales’ Rural Fire Service on his Instagram Story
Impassioned: Bette Midler (pictured) told Prime Minister Scott Morrison to start ‘leading’ the country and start the conversation regarding climate change, in an impassioned tweet
Leadership: ‘What an idiot. What good is an economy in an uninhabitable country? Lead, you f***wit!!’ the 74-year-old singer and actress wrote
Actor Jason Momoa, who filmed Aquaman in Queensland in 2017, said that seeing animals injured in the bushfires ‘breaks his heart’.
Another Hollywood star, Ryan Reynolds, praised the Australian Red Cross and New South Wales’ Rural Fire Service on his Instagram Story.
Bette Midler told Prime Minister Scott Morrison to start ‘leading’ the country and start the conversation regarding climate change in an impassioned tweet.
‘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”.
‘What an idiot. What good is an economy in an uninhabitable country? Lead, you f***wit!!’
Sad: American actor Jason Mamoa (pictured), who filmed Aquaman in Queensland in 2017, has said seeing animals injured in the bushfires ‘breaks his heart’
Doing his bit: American comedian Nick Kroll (pictured) has partnered up with Australian Joel Edgerton to urge ‘Fight Fire With a Fiver’ and urge people to donate just $5
Gamble: World No.1 tennis player Ash Barty (pictured) has promised to donate $360,000 to families affected by bushfires if she wins a major international competition
American comedian Nick Kroll has partnered with Australian Joel Edgerton for ‘Fight Fire With a Fiver’, a campaign encouraging people to donate just $5.
World No. 1 tennis player Ash Barty has vowed to donate $360,000 to families affected by the bushfires if she wins a major international competition.
She made the announcement at the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Other tennis players including Nick Kyrgios, Sam Stosur and Alex de Minaur have pledged similar donations.
Star: Nick Kyrgios (pictured) has pledged to donate $200 for every ace he hits this season to victims
‘Thoughts and prayers’: On Saturday, the Queen wrote to Governor General, David Hurley, expressing her concern for the bushfires tearing their way through Australia
On Saturday, the Queen wrote to Governor General David Hurley expressing her concern for the bushfires tearing their way through Australia.
‘I have been deeply saddened to hear of the continued bushfires and their devastating impact across many parts of Australia,’ she wrote in a letter published on the Royal Family’s Twitter account.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle offered their ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those affected by the Australian wildfires moments later.
If you’d like to donate to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief, click here.
To donate to the St Vincent de Paul Society appeal for bushfire victims, click here.
For donations to Victoria’s Country Fire Authority click here and here for the NSW Rural Fire Service.
To donate to Foodbank click here and here for the World Wildlife Fund.
Emotional: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle offered their ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those affected by the Australian wildfires moments later
An Instagram post from Harry and Meghan reads ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with those across Australia who are continuing to face the devastating fires that have been raging for months’
