Music stars are among the thousands of California residents impacted by the Camp and Woolsey wildfires north of Los Angeles that have claimed the lives of at least 31 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.
Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, and Canada’s Neil Young have reportedly lost their homes. On Saturday, singer Liam Payne tweeted: “I think I’m about to lose my house and its memories.”
Cyrus said Sunday she is “completely devastated.” She tweeted: “I am one of the lucky ones. My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that’s all that matters right now. My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong. I am grateful for all I have left.”
Thicke shared a message on Instagram for the “courageous firefighters and volunteers.” He added: “We are safe and surrounded by friends and family.”
On Friday, Lady Gaga shared: I’m sitting here with many of you wondering if my home will burst into flames.” She later heaped praise on the firefighters and volunteers battling the blazes.
Music legend Cher, who has lived in Malibu since 1972, shared her heartbreak on Twitter. “Kinda numb. So Many homes lost mine is just one home,” she wrote on Friday. “I’m worried about my house, but there is nothing I can do. Friends houses have burned. I can’t bear the thought of there being no Malibu…”
As the fire raged, so too did the anger against U.S. president Donald Trump, who blamed poor forest management. “Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests,” he tweeted. “Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”
Gaga shot back in a tweet on Monday. “You continue to make it clear you care for no one other than yourself,” she fumed. “Mr. President show some compassion for the people of California and set an example of kindness for this country.”
Perry slammed Trump for his “heartless” response to the tragedy. “There aren’t even politics involved,” she tweeted on Saturday. “Just good American families losing their homes as you tweet, evacuating into shelters.”
Rocker Axl Rose also challenged Trump. “Um…actually…it’s a lack of federal funding that’s at the ‘root’ of the purported forest mismanagement,” the Guns ’N Roses singer tweeted. “Only a demented n’ truly pathetic individual would twist that around n’ use a tragedy to once again misrepresent facts for attempted public/political gain at other’s expense.”
Rod Stewart joined the chorus. “Mr. President, while people’s homes are burning, while lives are being lost & while firefighters are risking their lives,” he tweeted. “California needs words of support & encouragement, not threats or finger pointing & accusations.”
John Legend tweeted: “Our National Embarrassment can't bring himself to show some empathy to Californians dealing with a horrific disaster.”
Singer Richard Marx didn’t hold back. "9 killed so far; many others missing; and this is what the President tweets. The man is a soulless cretin. An infection. A big, bloated gob of pus.”
On his website, Neil Young responded to Trump’s claim. “California is vulnerable … because of climate change; the extreme weather events and our extended drought is part of it.
“Imagine a leader who defies science, saying these solutions shouldn’t be part of his decision-making on our behalf. Imagine a leader who cares more for his own, convenient option than he does for the people he leads. Imagine an unfit leader. Now imagine a fit one.”