Actor Rainn Wilson is hoping to spread climate change awareness by changing his name on social media.
The 56-year-old actor is best known for playing Dwight Schrute on the hit NBC comedy “The Office.” Now he’s using his platform to bring attention to a cause he finds important.
Wilson posted a video to Twitter this week, calling his name change “a cheap little stunt to help save planet Earth.” His new display name is “Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson” though his Instagram handle did not change.
“I’ve changed my name on Twitter, Instagram and even on my fancy writing paper,” the actor shared with fans. The video’s caption said, “The Arctic is melting at Millions of Liters per second, yet this problem can’t seem to make a name for itself, so we’ll make a name for it.”
“I changed my name … to help tell the world leaders and influencers that we need to act now,” he continued.
Join me @ @ArcticBasecamp in bringing attention to the melting issue. We need world leaders to take action at COP 27!
The Arctic is melting at Millions of Liters per second, yet this problem can’t seem to make a name for itself, so we’ll make a name for it.
Go to link in bio ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/TgEG84fOmQ— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) November 9, 2022
Wilson’s name didn’t actually change on Twitter, which he blamed on the social media platform’s new owner.
“PS They won’t let me change my name because, Elon!” he shared in a tweet.
The comedian made a few other suggestions for celebrities to change their names for the same cause. Some of Wilson’s suggestions included “Cardi The Arctic B Melting,” “Amy Poehler Bears Are Endangered,” “Harrison Why Not Drive An Electric Ford,” and “Leonardo Di-Polar Ice Caprio Are Melting.”
Wilson is a board member of Arctic Basecamp, which he says is an organization with the goal of raising awareness about the risks of Arctic weather changes. Their website describes them as, “a team of Arctic experts and scientists who, for the last five years, have brought the Arctic to the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting at Davos.”
Besides suggesting new names for celebrities, Wilson also suggested his followers should change their names as well.
“Go to link in bio and create a name that will bring attention to this problem,” he shared in a follow-up tweet. “Then – and this is the important part – change your social media profile or display name to match your new ArcticRisk name.”
“And if enough of us do this, then maybe @cop27_egypt will be where our world leaders sit up and notice Arctic risks and introduce a solution,” the actor continued. “Make Arctic Name Changer a Game Changer!”