Many celebrities like to talk about big issues like the environment, but are they really doing anything?
The only thing celebrities undoubtedly do is draw attention to an issue. This is indisputable. Whether on Twitter or in an award acceptance speech, a celebrity who mentions a cause absolutely draws attention to it, and it’s by no means a meager contribution on its own.
But in the case of environmental protection, you can often see a lot of contradictions in what these high-ranking people say on stage versus what they practice in their lives. It’s not real for someone to take a private jet across country to an awards show, ride in a gas-guzzling SUV or limousine, say how much they care about the ground and then jump back in their plane.
Take Madonna, for example. The pop legend has spoken openly about several causes including the environment, and even performed at the Live Earth concert in London in 2008. Madonna is also an avid investor who has invested millions of dollars in some of the world’s biggest polluters, including the oil company BP.
Leonardo DiCaprio is probably the most well-known environmentalist, having devoted nearly all of his internet presence to the cause. He also founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, part of the $1 billion California Family Foundation. But DiCaprio is a frequent flyer of private jets, and a huge contributor to greenhouse gases.
Last year, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland, DiCaprio ditched the private jet and traveled by commercial airliner, a promising step toward real change and a better choice of land than many of his fellow attendees did.
On Earth Day this year, Kourtney Kardashian posted beautiful photos of the nature she saw in Hawaii, where she was vacationing at the time. The caption reads “Love her and take care of her every day.” This statement started with many of the planet’s emojis, so I think it’s safe to assume that Kardashian says she takes care of the Earth every day.
I have to give her credit for the fact that she’s been known to not have a private jet, although it’s hard to imagine anyone in the Kardashian family taking commercial flights. But what we do know is that Kardashian owns a lineup of 25 fuel-efficient cars. She’s also taken several vacations abroad in the past year, creating a huge carbon footprint for herself.
However, there are some celebrities who are talking about a big game and can follow along. An outspoken vegan, Joaquin Phoenix wore the same suit throughout the 2020 awards season in an effort to cut back on the waste of fashion, which is a huge problem in the world and especially in Hollywood.
In his Oscars acceptance speech that year, he called on fellow stars to do more for sustainability. “We don’t have to take private planes to Palm Springs,” he said. “I will try to do better, and I hope you will too.” A few days later, he was arrested alongside Jane Fonda at her environmental protests in Washington, DC
It’s not enough for these hypocritical celebrities to change their ways, but it must be a team effort. Every famous person is an opportunity to achieve awareness and real change, but most of them miss it.
I hope to see a future where caring for our environment isn’t just another badge of honor that celebrities describe on their social media. I want to see these massive platforms and the enormous resources put in place in order to save the planet we all call home.
Tracy Mullinax can be reached in[email protected]
