DJIMON HOUNSOU - HOUNSOU DISMISSES DIAMOND CAMPAIGN

HOUNSOU DISMISSES DIAMOND CAMPAIGN

LATEST: BLOOD DIAMOND star DJIMON HOUNSOU has rubbished a campaign which encourages Hollywood beauties to wear diamond-encrusted jewellery to promote the gemstone industry during the current awards season. Celebrities have been asked to brandish the jewels as part of the Raise Your Right Hand campaign - the industry's attempt at combating the negative publicity brought on by the release of Blood Diamond, which also stars LEONARDO DiCAPRIO - in exchange for a $10,000 (GBP5,550) donation to an African charity of the stars' choice. But Hounsou, who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in EDWARD ZWICK's film, insists the movie's message is not aimed at discouraging stars from sporting diamonds. He says, "I can tell you why we didn't make this film. We didn't make this film to stop people buying or wearing diamonds. "We made this film to highlight how western corporations are doing business in Africa."