Los Angeles fires draw backlash over Curtis Gaza comments

For six days, Los Angeles has been engulfed by massive fires. According to CNN and the BBC, 24 people have already died, and dozens are considered missing. The fire is destroying areas in three locations: Eaton, Hurst, and Pacific Palisades, where the most homes have burned down. The latest data from CNN indicates that the fire has consumed as many as 5,000 homes. The losses suffered by celebrities have been widely discussed. Among others, homes have been lost by Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, and Jeff Bridges. However, it's crucial to remember the thousands of other Los Angeles residents who did not have the financial safety net of the stars.

One of the stars highlighting the situation in Los Angeles is actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The star of "The Bear" shared on her Instagram profile that she was evacuated with her family, but the fire did not threaten her property. However, a significant portion of her neighbourhood and the church where she received help in fighting addiction were burned.

While the actress is vocal in her calls for assistance for Los Angeles residents, she sparked considerable controversy by comparing the fires to the situation in war-torn Middle Eastern countries. "The whole of Pacific Palisades looks like Gaza or other countries where terrible events have happened," Curtis remarked during a Q&A session for the film "The Last Showgirl". Her statement did not go unnoticed.

The actress's words were met with a wave of criticism on social media. Users on platforms like X pointed out that comparing the fires to war zones is inappropriate and diminishes the unique destruction of each event. "Do not compare a natural disaster to genocide!" wrote one of the commenters. It should be noted that since October 2023, over 40,000 Palestinians are reportedly dead in the Gaza Strip. However, this number is believed to be greatly underestimated because many bodies remain buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed in air raids. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, almost half a million people in the Gaza Strip will experience extreme hunger in the coming months.

Recently, Curtis appealed for support for fire victims, encouraging assistance to organisations such as the Red Cross. Curtis and her family pledged to donate $1 million to the support fund for those affected. "Do everything you can to help," she wrote on Instagram.

The fires in Los Angeles, including the largest in Pacific Palisades and Eaton, have already burned over 14,000 hectares. Firefighters are working tirelessly to control the situation. This week, a person suspected of arson was arrested, but no charges were brought due to a lack of evidence. It is reported that the fires could cause damages amounting to $150 billion, making them the most expensive in U.S. history.