Actor George Clooney, 65, and his wife Amal Alamuddin, 48, were forced to evacuate their family home in France due to large-scale wildfires that have spiraled out of control.
The couple, along with their 9-year-old twins, left the town of Brignoles in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The town is under the highest level of fire danger and is among the most affected by the fires. They announced their decision in a letter to the mayor of the town, Didier, which was obtained by People magazine.
In the letter, Clooney stated that after the fires are extinguished, he and his wife will help rebuild the region. “Dear Didier, at this time, we do not know if our beautiful home will survive this terrible time. As we leave Brignoles, we want to emphasize two things: first, we hope that you and the residents of our town are safe; second, Amal and I are committed, no matter what happens to our town, to being part of this community and making our contribution to its recovery. We love Brignoles and our friends who live there,” the letter reads.
Fires engulf southern France
An extreme heatwave with temperatures exceeding 42°C and strong winds have contributed to this year’s wildfire season becoming one of the largest in recent years in Europe. Due to the rapid spread of the fires, thousands of people have been evacuated. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the population to follow safety measures. According to official data, the flames have already destroyed about 42,000 hectares, and more than 220,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.
According to the publication, Amal Alamuddin, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, and George Clooney obtained French citizenship in December of last year. The couple has repeatedly stated that they do not want to raise their twins, Alexander and Ella, in the atmosphere of Hollywood culture. In an interview with Esquire magazine last year, the actor explained that he strives to provide his children with a quieter life without the constant attention of the paparazzi and comparisons with other celebrity children. “I was worried about raising our children in Los Angeles, in the Hollywood culture. I felt that they would never have a fair chance in life. In France, they seem indifferent to fame,” Clooney said.
In addition to the house in France, the family also owns property in England and near Clooney’s relatives in the state of Kentucky.
Source: CNN Brasil
