Tyler Perry and an array of Atlanta celebrities are lending their voices to offer support and raise awareness for the victims who have lost their homes and livelihoods to wildfires in greater Los Angeles.
T.I., Jermaine Dupri and 2 Chainz are among the figures who have taken to social media to share information about the fires and resources for residents who had to evacuate. Rapper 6lack said in a Facebook post that the fires claimed the home of the only family he had out west, “so we’re gathering all resources to rebuild for them.”
Perry, perhaps the most vocal of them all, took aim at insurance companies. California’s insurance marketplace was already in crisis before the fires and insurance companies had chosen not to renew the policies of thousands of residents in fire prone areas, The Los Angeles Times reported in recent days, leaving many homeowners unprotected.
Credit: TNS
Credit: TNS
Given the widespread destruction, and estimates of resident and business losses of more than $100 billion, many in neighborhoods reduced to ashes by the fires fear their insurance may not cover their losses despite paying for coverage for years. Others fear coverage costs will soar.
In an Instagram post Sunday, Perry wrote that he found it “appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
He continued in the post: “People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed.”
The Palisades fire had burned more than 23,000 acres as of Tuesday morning, the Times reported, while more than 14,000 acres had burned in the Eaton fire.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
The fires, which were first reported on Jan. 7 and spread rapidly by worsening Santa Ana winds, destroyed hundreds of homes, as well as schools, museums and historic landmarks. At least 24 people have died as of Monday, according to The Associated Press.
Several celebrities lost homes, including Jeff Bridges, Mandy Moore and influential hip-hop producer Madlib, along with hundreds of other professionals working in California’s entertainment industries. But the area wasn’t just an enclave for higher-net worth musicians, artists or executives — thousands of residents, some of whom have lived in the area for decades, have also been displaced.
Credit: credit Cindy Lucas-Stone
Credit: credit Cindy Lucas-Stone
The L.A.-area wildfires are expected to be among the most destructive and costliest fires in California’s history. Analysts are providing a vast range of estimates, but private forecaster AccuWeather places the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, Reuters reported.
The fires have already disrupted film and television production, as well as large-scale entertainment events routinely held this time of year. Oscar nominations have been delayed by a week. Universal Music Group, a major record label representing several Atlanta-based artists, has canceled all of its Grammy-related events. The Weeknd pushed the release of his latest album, which was set to come out next Friday, by a week, and Beyoncé postponed a Tuesday announcement she has been teasing for months.
Both Los Angeles and Atlanta are major hubs for the entertainment industry. It’s not uncommon for musicians, actors, crew members and other talent from Atlanta to have ties in both cities.
Atlanta’s chapter of the Recording Academy said it was not aware of members who have been directly impacted by the L.A. fires. The annual Grammy Awards ceremony will proceed as planned on Feb. 2, senior executive director Michele Rhea Caplinger said in an email, with the show raising funds to support wildfire relief efforts.
Spokespeople for Atlanta chapters of SAG-AFTRA and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees did not respond to requests for comment about affected members.
Studios active in Atlanta’s film industry have donated money to relief efforts. Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT, TBS and CNN, committed $15 million in donations. Netflix, Amazon and Comcast donated $10 million apiece.
IATSE, the union representing behind-the-scenes workers, is offering assistance to members displaced by the fires. SAG-AFTRA is donating $1 million.
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