Brazil's president claims Leonardo DiCaprio paid for Amazon fires

JOAO LAET / AFP

Without offering any proof, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accused Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio of financing deliberate fires in the Amazon rainforest.

"This Leonardo DiCaprio’s a cool guy, isn’t he? Giving money for the Amazon to be torched," Bolsonaro told supporters on Friday.

DiCaprio has pledged $5 million to protect the rainforest, and Bolsonaro claimed that nonprofit groups are setting the fires to get money.

This comes after four volunteer firefighters were arrested and charged with setting fires, but later released following public outrage.

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