Celebrities face backlash for posting videos of their luxury homes burning in LA wildfires, drawing criticism during widespread devastation.
Recently, Southern California faced devastating wildfires that forced many people to evacuate their homes.
Among those affected were several celebrities.
However, instead of sympathy, many of these stars received criticism for how they shared their experiences online.
The impact of the LA wildfires
The wildfires, particularly the Palisades Fire, became one of the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
It burned over 17,000 acres and caused significant damage.
Many famous names, including Paris Hilton and Jamie Lee Curtis, found themselves in the path of the flames.
They shared videos and stories on social media about their homes being threatened or destroyed.
Celebrities slammed for sharing videos of their million-dollar homes engulfed in LA wildfires
Wealthy individuals faced backlash for hiring private firefighters.
One millionaire CEO even faced backlash for asking about hiring private firefighters to save his home.
His tweet drew outrage for prioritizing personal property over community needs during the crisis.
“Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here.
All neighbors’ houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you,” Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, wrote on X.
Heidi Montag
Celebrities like Heidi Montag shared their experiences of packing up their homes quickly.
She described the overwhelming feeling of deciding what to bring and what to leave behind.
While her sentiments were relatable, some viewers questioned the authenticity of her emotions, suggesting that her wealth insulated her from the true impact of the disaster.
“The craziest thing when you’re packing for a fire is that your brain just freaks out,” Heidi Montag, 38, said in an Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 8.
“You’re like, ‘What do I need? What do I not need?’ It’s so overwhelming packing up a house.
I mean, I only have, like, two pairs of jeans, two shirts. I got so much more clothes for the kids.”
Cameron Mathison
Cameron Mathison, another celebrity, shared a video showing the devastation from the fires.
He expressed gratitude for his safety but also showed the destruction around him.
Yet, comments on his post indicated that people felt little pity for him because of his celebrity status and wealth.
Meghan Markle
Even Meghan Markle faced criticism.
She posted a tribute to her deceased dog during the fires, which many saw as inappropriate timing.
Commenters accused her of seeking attention while serious events unfolded around her.
Some celebrities did try to pivot their focus toward helping others.
Paris Hilton and Kevin Hart
Paris Hilton mentioned reaching out to non-profit organizations to assist those affected by the fires.
Additionally, when Kevin Hart posted about Airbnb offering free housing for those affected, some users remarked that the rich should not be the focus.
They pointed out that while celebrities may have lost their homes, they had the means to rebuild.
This led to discussions about wealth disparity, and many felt more sympathy for those who could not afford to start over.
“We can house the rich but we can’t house the poor,” a netizen remarked when Kevin Hart shared a post about Airbnb.org “offering free, emergency housing”
Mixed reactions from the public
While it is natural for people to seek support during tough times, the reactions from the public were mixed.
Many social media users felt that celebrities were drawing attention to themselves rather than focusing on the wider disaster.
One user wrote: Who cares they’ve got enough money they wouldn’t have to worry about anything for a hundred lifetimes.
The second user said: Are we supposed to feel sorry for the 1% and celebrity population who lost their homes in this fire and can afford to buy 20 more?
The third user commented: Give me a break…they can afford to rebuild anywhere…most of the population Does Not!
Another user wrote: Sorry but they are still alive,still rich. So you lost things.
I feel for the people that are poor and cant afford to rebuild or find and buy a new home.
And the animals who lost their lives. The rich will move on and help each other, but the poor, lets see who helps them.
On the other hand, some people stand with celebrities whose homes burned in the fire.
One user said: Just because some of these people are rich dosent mean it hurts any less. WTF is wrong with people.
I swear the lack of empathy is staggering. wtf happen to this country.
The second user wrote: They’re still humans, many now homeless and who have lost belongings and memories.
It doesn’t matter who you are…it’s horrific and no one deserves that heartbreak.
The third user commented: This is insane. Where is the human compassion?