Chelsea Handler interviewed Canadian crooner Michael Buble on her hit E! Talk show Chelsea Lately.  Buble was there to promote his new CD/DVD combo. When asked why people should purchase his CD, Buble extolled the virtues of the behind the scenes content, great people, yadda, yadda, yadda.  He then said that his CD/DVD was green so everyone should go out and get it. Sadly, Chelsea didn’t take the bait at first but eventually asked Buble what made it eco friendly. Buble then told the audience that the CD/DVD was actually not green.  The crooner did, however, promise to drive his Hummer five less minutes for every CD sold.

At first it kind of got my green back up but the crowd, and eventually I, laughed at that he was in fact poking fun at some of the eco-righteous celebrities.  Buble was mocking those who make these green statements without fully understanding the concept.  They are “green” in public but in private they are jetting across the world for the latest fashion show residing in their nearest mansion (they could own 2, 3 or 4).  Some may have failed to see the humour in his approach (as I did at first) but at the end of the day, he achieved his goal.  He got everyone’s attention and shone a flashlight on what could be called “celebrity green-washing”. 

Oh and a big green shout out to actress Frances Fisher, best known for playing Kate Winslet’s mother in Titanic.  As she was seen coming out of a Hollywood hotspot and walking towards her Toyota Prius a paparazzi asked if she had any eco friendly ideas or tips to share. Her quick quip of a reply “shut off your camera..that would save energy”.  Gotta love a well-timed “in your face” rebuttal especially when it’s got a hint of green.

Eco friendly is a buzzword around Hollywood but proceed with caution, celebrity greenwashing could be ahead. 

Here’s Buble paying homage to the chairman.