Actor Cate Blanchett has spearheaded a nearly two-decade-long celebrity campaign against leaf blowers, citing noise pollution and severe environmental damage. Her viral crusade has drawn support from other stars and fueled a wider public debate.
October 2, 2025
Source:
The Guardian
A Two-Decade Crusade
For nearly 20 years, actor Cate Blanchett has been the leading voice in a surprisingly persistent Hollywood campaign against leaf blowers. Her public crusade dates back to a 2007 interview with W Magazine, where she famously called the devices “everything that is wrong with the human race.”
Since then, her disdain has not wavered. Blanchett has consistently used her platform in media interviews, press conferences, and even on shows like "Hot Ones" to denounce the machines.
The Core Arguments
Blanchett’s opposition is rooted in several key issues:
Noise Pollution: She describes the tools as “antisocial” and a major source of neighborhood disruption.
Pointless Activity: She has frequently criticized the logic of simply moving leaves “from one place to another, only for the wind to blow them back.”
Environmental Harm: The actor often points to the severe pollution caused by gas-powered models, a claim backed by environmental studies.
Her passionate and often humorous rants have become a recurring meme, going viral on TikTok and YouTube and turning a personal pet peeve into a public conversation.
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Celebrity Support and Environmental Concerns
Cate Blanchett is not alone in her fight. A growing number of celebrities have joined the chorus of criticism against leaf blowers, amplifying the debate over their use.
Hollywood's Anti-Blower Brigade
Several other high-profile figures have voiced their opposition:
Hugh Grant and Danny DeVito are also noted as outspoken critics of the garden tool.
Blanchett's co-star, Michael Fassbender, offered a simple solution, suggesting we “bring back the rake” as a quieter, eco-friendly alternative.
The Science Behind the Stance
The anti-leaf blower movement is supported by significant environmental data. A widely cited 2011 study from automotive research firm Edmunds found that a consumer-grade leaf blower emits more pollutants than a high-performance pickup truck. The study concluded that operating a two-stroke leaf blower for 30 minutes produces more hydrocarbon emissions than driving a Ford F-150 Raptor from Texas to Alaska.
This kind of data has prompted legislative action. Citing noise and air pollution, cities like Washington D.C. have enacted full bans on the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers, a trend seen in hundreds of other municipalities across the country.
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