Louisiana native and “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder has been working tirelessly to promote awareness of the dire situation on the Gulf Coast since the spill two months ago. Recently, he’s expressed frustration about the lack of industry and celebrity voices speaking out about the disaster.
“Brad Pitt and people at his level in this industry – they do amazing things for the world, all over the world,” Somerhalder tells Zap2it. “But it seems obvious to me that there’s a certain silence, with this particular issue, and I have my own theories why — politically, why that might be, but I would never discuss that, because they’re my thoughts. It’s not my place to project that on anyone.”
Somerhalder isn’t alone in his quest to bring awareness and aid to the Gulf coast. A number of celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Jenny McCarthy, and Alyssa Milano participated in Larry King’s special two-hour telethon “Disaster in the Gulf: How You Can Help,” which raised $1.8 million for disaster relief. And this week, some of Somerhalder’s fellow CW stars added their voices to the cause as well.
“One Tree Hill” star Sophia Bush has never been a fan of online social networking, but she and her co-star Austin Nichols signed up for Twitter accounts this week (@SophiaBush and @AUS10NICHOLS).
“I’ve never been a person that’s wanted to open up any facet of my personal life to any kind of social media,” Bush tells Zap2it, calling from New Orleans, where she and Nichols have been working with Global Green and learning about the impact of the B.P. oil spill.
“We started accounts because we were so angry about the spill,” Nichols — Bush’s boyfriend on screen and off — explains. “We wanted to get as many followers as we could before we got here so that we could tell people what’s going on.”
“All of my skepticism has been destroyed,” Bush says. “Last night the sheer outpouring of support, and not to sound cliche, but the outpouring of love that we’ve received — I have cried. I am humbled and appreciative.”
That’s not to say that she’s feeling particularly warm and fuzzy at the moment. After two days of touring Grand Isle, speaking to natives, and trying to get answers from B.P.’s contracted workers, she’s furious. “I’m enraged. I’m not even mad anymore. Coming down here I was angry, and leaving this place tomorrow, I am enraged and shocked that any of what’s going on down here is legal in the first place.”
For information about how you can help, check out United Way, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Nature Conservancy. Keep an eye on Zap2it for more from our interviews with Sophia Bush, Austin Nichols, and Ian Somerhalder.
Read the full article by clicking here.
