Celeste Barber's staggering feat as celebs dig deep for bushfire victims

Australian comedian and writer Celeste Barber has raised more than $33 million for the NSW RFS and prompted other celebrities to use their influence amid Australia’s bushfire crisis.

Barber, who is best known for her parody Instagram account, originally set out to raise $20,000, but since then the fundraiser has benefited from more than 845,000 donors.

“Want to join me in supporting a good cause?” she wrote on Facebook.

“I'm raising money for The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate a lot or a little. Anything helps. Thank you for your support.”

Barber shared a series of photos taken from her in-laws home on Instagram, a stark contrast from her usual comedic content.

“This is my mother-in-law’s house. It’s terrifying. They are scared. They need your help. International donations can be made via the link in my bio,” she wrote in the caption.

The post has been liked by more than 205,000 accounts and prominent figures such as Selma Blair, Gary Janetti and Katie Couric offered their support in the comments.

Barber later thanked those who had donated on her Instagram story, clearly overwhelmed with the response she had received.

Celebrities donate to bushfire relief

The Australian bushfires have been making international headlines, and celebrities are pledging their support and donating to worthy causes.

US singer Pink said on social media she was donating $500,000 “directly to the local fire services”.

“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” she wrote on Instagram and Twitter, while sharing a photo with links to all the places people can donate.

“My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”

Australian actress Nicole Kidman shared the same photo as Pink and also stated she was donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services “who are all doing and giving so much right now”.

“Our family’s support, thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia,” the Hollywood star wrote.

Kidman’s husband and country music singer Keith Urban also shared a post, with the same caption as his wife.

Australian model Miranda Kerr also shared a series of photos and encouraged her 12.2 million followers to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, providing a link on her Instagram biography.

Meanwhile Kim Kardashian West shared a series of photos on her Instagram story of the bushfires and injured animals, along with a link to an ABC article offering advice on how to help – from donating money, supplies, services and how to help the wildlife.

The entire Kardashian-Jenner clan – Kourtney, Khloe, Kris, Kendall and Kylie – shared photos to their stories along with the link to the same article Kim shared.

“Heartbroken by the devastating fires in Australia,” Kris wrote on Instagram.

“Half a billion animals have lost their lives and people’s homes and communities are being destroyed.”

Kim Kardashian West also retweeted US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

“I say to those who are delaying action on climate change: Look at the blood-red sky and unbreathable air in Australia because of raging forest fires,” Senator Sanders tweeted on January 2.

“Our futures are all connected. That is why we must bring the world together and enact a Green New Deal.”

“Climate change is real,” Ms Kardashian West said on Twitter.

US songstress Selena Gomez encouraged her Twitter followers to donate, sharing an article outlining how to help.

“Absolutely devastated by the fires in Australia,” she wrote.

“Praying for everyone affected and all of the first responders.”

YouTuber James Charles also directed his followers to an article explaining how they can help and find more information.

“Australia is my absolute favourite place I’ve visited & has a very special place in my heart,” he tweeted.

American musician Lizzo, who is currently touring Australia, not only donated to Barber’s fundraiser, but shared a number of photos on her Instagram story with links to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the RFS.

In a video she recorded from Brisbane, Lizzo said being in Australia has given her insight into the devastation caused by the fires.

Speaking to her followers from around the world, she said the bushfires were a “global crisis”.

“It affects the world,” she said while holding koala toy.

The singer then urged her followers to donate if they could and if they couldn’t provide financial aid she asked them to care, be aware and “spread some awareness”.

The Royal Family send their support

On the official Instagram account of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan sent their “thoughts and prayers” to Australia.

“From areas we are personally connected to such as the communities and people we visited in New South Wales in 2018, to the fires in California and parts of Africa, we are struck by the increasingly overlapping presence of these environmental disasters, including of course the destruction of the Amazon which continues,” the royal couple wrote.

“This global environmental crisis has now been described as ecocide. It’s easy to feel helpless, but there’s always a way to help.”

In the post they added links and tagged various organisations where people can donate.

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