Golden Globes 2020: Russell Crowe’s climate change message during Australian bushfires
Stars at the Golden Globes have used the power of the stage to send messages to Australia as devastating bushfires continue to burn.
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Stars have used the stage to send heartwarming messages to Australia from the glitz and glamour of the Golden Globes, with seven mentions of the devastating bushfires throughout the ceremony, and a backstage donation pledge.
Russell Crowe, who won the second award for the night for The Loudest Voice, was the first to deliver a statement on the fires, sending a simple message via Jennifer Aniston.
He is not at the awards ceremony as he is in Australia protecting his home.
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Pierce Brosnan delivered another message directly to Australia: “All of us at the Golden Globes and the HFPA send our hearts to all of the people affected by the bushfires in Australia. Stay strong, god bless.”
And Ellen DeGeneres used her acceptance speech for her Carol Burnett Award to express her sorrow for the many animals lost in the blaze.
“My heart goes out to everyone in Australia, for all the animals you’ve lost,” the comedian and talk show host said.
Veteran actress Patricia Arquette, while accepting Best Performance By An Actress In a Supporting Role In a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made For Television, made mention of the crisis while slamming US President Donald Trump.
“We’re not going to look back on this night in the history books,” she said.
“We will see a country on the brink of war, the United States of America; a president tweeting out a threat of 52 bombs, including cultural sites; young people risking their lives, travelling across the world; people not knowing if bombs are going to drop on their kids’ heads. And the continent of Australia on fire.
“So while I love my kids so much, I beg all of us to give them a better world. For our kids and their kids, we have to vote in 2020. And we have to beg and plead for everyone we know to vote in 2020.”
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Aussie royalty Cate Blanchett, while presenting a clip from Joker, dedicated her time on stage to thanking Australia’s brave firefighters.
“I wanted to do a special call out to volunteer firefighters who have been at the centre of battling the climate disaster facing Australia,” she said.
“When one country faces a climate disaster, we all face a climate disaster.”
Meanwhile, Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge announced backstage she will be auctioning off the Ralph Russo suit she was wearing and donating the money to fire relief in Australia.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge announces backstage that she will auction off her Ralph Russo suit from tonight’s #GoldenGlobes and donate the money to fire relief in Australia pic.twitter.com/OzQzc9GOaU
— Kirsten Chuba (@KirstenChuba) January 6, 2020
And Joaquin Phoenix, who won Best Actor for a Motion Picture for Joker, was another celeb who used the platform for a climate change plea, with reference to Australia.
“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t want to rock the boat. But the boat is f***ing rocked,” Phoenix said.
“It’s really nice that so many people have sent their well wishes to Australia but we have to do more than that,” Phoenix emphasised.
“I have not always been a virtuous man. So many of you in this room have given me so many opportunities to get it right,” he shared with the audience.
“Together, hopefully we can be unified and make some changes.”
The night ended with one last encouragement from host Ricky Gervais to donate.
Crowe, whose property was directly affected by the blaze, used his win to urge people to take action against climate change amid Australia’s devastating bushfires.
He later tweeted thanking his castmates for his award, as well as sharing a video of a firetruck prepared to fight spot fires.
But at the end of the video – his Golden Globe can be seen in the back seat surrounded by fire hoses and blankets.
“All the stuff you need for fighting fires,” the star joked while zooming in on the gong.
Thanks to the @goldenglobes .
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) January 6, 2020
What a cast I got to work with.
Naomi Watts, @WallisAnnabelle Sienna Miller, Aleksa Palladino @JoshStamberg @SethMacFarlane Simon McBurney and everybody else. They created a complete world. Their commitment, sensitivity and courage was inspiring. pic.twitter.com/AW9PtKwKF3
The actor landed a Globe for his role and incredible transformation as Roger Ailes in Stan drama The Loudest Voice, with the actor absent from the ceremony in the wake of his Coffs Harbour property being affected by bushfire in November.
He used his speech — read out by Aniston — to send a powerful message about climate change.
“Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change based.
“We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place that it is. That way, we all have a future.”
In November, Crowe shared images of his multimillion-dollar NSW property after a bushfire left parts of it “scorched” and out of water.
He wasn’t in Australia at the time of the fire but returned home to inspect the damage and rally a crew for the clean up.
Crowe shared videos from the clean up and said his property had been “absolutely f***ing smashed” from the bushfires.
He also shared confronting images from fires still burning near his home on Instagram, writing, “Still burning … they say a wind change might crank things up again in the valley.
“I hope wherever you are in Australia, or California or anywhere else facing bushfires, that you and yours remain safe”.
There are 136 fires still burning across NSW after a horrendous weekend of raging bushfires.
Two people are missing in a remote part of the state’s fire zone.
The weekend marked some of the worst days in the country’s deadly bushfire crisis, with hundreds more properties destroyed and the overall death toll climbing to 24, including a man who died Saturday trying to save a friend’s home.
East coast seaside towns were plunged into darkness, ash rained down on rural communities and major cities were again cloaked in choking smoke.
Originally published as Golden Globes 2020: Russell Crowe’s climate change message during Australian bushfires