'We need to act now': 'The Office' star Rainn Wilson changes his name to raise awareness about climate change
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Recently, climate activists have used a variety of strategies to draw attention to the ongoing environmental catastrophe. Some people have blocked roads, and marched in the streets, while some have even thrown food at popular paintings in the museums. However, actor Rainn Wilson has chosen a unique and different way to raise awareness about climate change. 'The Office' actor, who played Dwight Schrute on the show, has decided to change his name. Wilson recently announced that he has changed his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson on social media as he is taking the effects of global warming seriously.
The 56-year-old actor revealed the new name on Twitter and Instagram on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, in an effort to draw attention to the rapidly melting Arctic and its disastrous implications on the rest of the world. In a selfie-style video, he maintained that the climate change in the Arctic "is not just bad news for the Arctic — but for us, too," according to Page Six. The actor captioned the video, "Join me @rainnwilson & @arctic.basecamp in bringing attention to this growing... er, melting issue. We need world leaders at COP27 to take notice and take action. The Arctic is melting at millions of litres per second, yet this problem can’t seem to make a name for itself, so it’s up to us to make a name for it."
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In the video, the actor said, “As a cheap little stunt to help save planet Earth, I’ve changed my name on Twitter [and] Instagram,” adding that he intends to “help tell the world leaders and influencers that we need to act now.”
The actor announced his new name's longer and slightly-altered version in the video. "Hi there, I’m Rainn Wilson — or should I say: ‘Rainfall Heat Wave Rising Sea Levels And We Have To Do Something About It Now Wilson,” Wilson said, adding, “Sorry to get so dark, so quick.”
Wilson, a fervent supporter of the environment and a board member of Arctic Basecamp, claimed to have contacted "lots of folks in show business" to urge them to follow suit. “I’m hoping this name change brings attention to this growing... er, melting issue,” he said in a press release by Arctic Basecamp.
"We need world leaders at COP27 to take notice and take action. The Arctic is melting at millions of liters per second, yet this problem can’t seem to make a name for itself, so it’s up to us to make a name for it.”
He explained, “It’s fun. It’s free,” and urged his fans to visit ArcticRisk.org and do what he did because it was free, according to MSN. Wilson's remark coincided with the COP27 or 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is currently going on in Egypt until November 18, 2022.
Though neither his Instagram nor Twitter handles reflect his new name, Wilson wrote, most likely humorously, that the latter is the fault of new Twitter CEO Elon Musk.
P.S.
— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) November 9, 2022
THEY WON’T LET ME CHANGE MY NAME BECAUSE, ELON!https://t.co/K1JfH3y3nc
He tweeted, “P.S. THEY WON’T LET ME CHANGE MY NAME BECAUSE, ELON!”
Wilson is actively raising his voice against issues affecting the world. He recently also urged Americans to go out and vote during the midterm elections and also supported women protesting in Iran on his Instagram.