He has been called many a name in his lifetime (most of the negative ones came courtesy of Fabio), but George Clooney says “peace keeper” is not one he is referred to very often. However, if the shoe fits…
The handsome actor is back in the headlines again today after donating $5.6 million to help the United Nations peacekeeping force in war-torn Sudan buy a fleet of helicopters.
How’s that for digging deep?
Clooney, who was recently named a U.N. Messenger of Peace, has been one of the most outspoken celebrity advocates for the victims in the impoverished Darfur region. Since filming a documentary about the ongoing violence and refugee crisis there in 2007 Clooney has donated millions of dollars to help provide humanitarian aid to the area, mainly through his organization Not On Our Watch, which he created with his “Ocean’s Thirteen” castmates Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle.
But Clooney’s latest donation reportedly came directly out of his own pocket. According to news reports, when the Oscar winner learned of the plight of the U.N. peacekeeping force Unamid in Darfur, he got out his checkbook.
One source is quoted as saying that Clooney “was horrified by the Sudanese government’s ‘scorched earth’ (bomb) attacks on western Darfur last month. And when he was told that Unamid officials felt they could have done something about the attacks if they’d had the right equipment – they need 18 helicopters and so far have none – he decided to put his money where his mouth is.”
When Clooney isn’t reaching out to help those in need a half a world away he’s busy taking care of peacekeeping duties in this country.
The Academy Award winner just confirmed that he was forced to call police after a mysterious caller warned him to break up with his girlfriend Sarah Larson.
The hunky movie star told reporters he recently received a voicemail from an unknown number urging him to end his relationship with Larson “before you’re sorry.”
Fearing for his gal pal’s safety Clooney asked police to investigate the matter.
As for Larson she told a New York newspaper that the threat might stem from media rumors that claim she was once a stripper in Las Vegas. According to Larson, she did work as a cocktail waitress, but she has never been employed as an escort.
Clooney and Larson met last June when she was working at the “Ocean’s Thirteen” premiere party at Las Vegas’ Palms Hotel.