Australian comedian Celeste Barber raises $20m for Rural Fire Service

From Celeste Barber to Pink and Nicole Kidman, celebrities have thrown their support behind the bushfire donations effort.

Australian actress and comedian Celeste Barber.

Celebrities have thrown their support behind the bushfire donations effort, including Australian comedian Celeste Barber whose fundraiser has garnered over $25 million for the cause – attracting about $10,000 in donations every minute.

Barber, who is known worldwide for her celebrity parodies on Instagram, called on her significant social media following on Friday to raise money for Australian firefighters amid the bushfire crisis.

“This is my mother in law’s house. It’s terrifying,” Celeste Barber posted on Facebook.

Shortly after 11am on Sunday, her Facebook campaign had raised more than $19.5 million, from more than 400,000 individual donations.

Please help anyway you can. This is terrifying. We need your help.

Posted by Celeste Barber on Thursday, 2 January 2020

The comedian sparked the mass movement after posting photos of her mother-in-law’s home in Eden on the NSW south coast, one of many towns at risk from fires ravaging the region.

“This is my mother in laws house. It’s terrifying,” Barber said in the post.

“They are scared. They need your help. International donations can be made via the link in my bio.”

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have pledged $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services, saying their family’s “support, thoughts and prayers” were with “everyone affected by the fires all over Australia”.

Kidman’s publicist has told US media outlets the family’s property in Sutton Forest, NSW, is under threat as she looked visibly upset at a pre-Golden Globes event.

The Big Little Lies actress reportedly stopped red carpet interviews and said, “I’m so sorry, I’m so distracted right now with everything that’s happening in Australia.”

US popstar Pink also pledged a donation of $500,000.

“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” the singer tweeted.

“I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the front lines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has pledged to donate $200 for every ace he hits this summer season, while Australian teammate Alex de Minaur responded saying he’d go to $250 per ace, because: “I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate.”

Women’s tennis players Sam Stosur ($200), Priscilla Hon ($50) and Storm Sanders ($10) will also donate for every ace they send down in competition.

The promises came after Ellen Perez, a rising Australian who made her Australian Open debut last year, said she would send $10 per ace.

“Wish I was a big dog and able to give more but everything counts,” Perez wrote on Twitter.

Tennis Australia has announced a “Rally for Relief” exhibition match on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday January 15.

They will also donate proceeds from an Australian Open concert performed by Jessica Mauboy on January 19 to the Red Cross appeal and grant $1 million for communities to rebuild tennis facilities.

Some of Australia’s cricketers have pledged personal donations, with star batsmen Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell and D’Arcy Short to donate $250 for every six they hit in the Big Bash League.

The bushfire tragedy has also attracted the attention of actor Selma Blair and US comedians Ellen DeGeneres and Gary Janetti all pledging money to the NSW Rural Fire Service.