Devastating wildfires are continuing to destroy some of the most famous neighborhoods in Southern California.

As firefighting teams battled the rapidly spreading flames in the Los Angeles and Ventura County regions, several celebrities took to social media to express their appreciation for the first responders fighting the relentless fires. Others took the opportunity to voice frustration regarding the state’s leadership and their management of the emergency.

Zachary Levi, star of “Shazam!”, shared his concerns on Fox News on January 8, criticizing California politicians for their handling of the numerous wildfires in Los Angeles, as well as other fires affecting the state over the years.

“This is a serious failure in management and leadership; I would even call it criminally negligent,” Levi stated while speaking from Austin, Texas. The actor previously identified as a Libertarian and supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential bid before backing President-elect Donald Trump.

From the San Gabriel Mountains to the Hollywood Hills and extending to the Malibu coastline, fierce flames consumed the lower part of the state, driven by strong Santa Ana winds.

As of Sunday, four fires were active, with the most destructive being the Pacific Palisades fire, only 11% contained. This area is notably populated by many celebrities who reside and work in the heart of the entertainment industry.

Khloé Kardashian criticizes LA Mayor Karen Bass, calls her ‘a joke’

On Friday, Khloé Kardashian shared an Instagram story featuring an interview with Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who stated to Fox 11 that the fire department is “not adequately funded,” noting that budget cuts have adversely affected “our ability to provide service.”

In her Instagram story, Kardashian showed support for Crowley, stating she “told the truth,” as indicated by screenshots shared by Fox News and Page Six.

The star of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” further expressed, “Mayor Bass, you’re a joke!!!!”

A few days later, actress Yvette Nicole Brown posted on Instagram, calling out Kardashian for her remarks. Brown shared a screenshot of a Rolling Stone article from August 2022, which reported, based on data from the Los Angeles Times, that Kardashian had received “notices of exceedance” for exceeding her water budget—by 101,000 gallons, in her case.

“This is from 2022 when Los Angeles was experiencing a drought. Every resident was urged to conserve water for everyone’s benefit. This is how some residents responded,” Brown commented alongside the image. “Is THIS a joke @khloekardashian?”

The following day, Kardashian used her Instagram Story to highlight the “outpouring of humanity” she observed since the onset of the fires. “In the midst of the destruction caused by the fires, it has been heartwarming to witness how people are uniting and supporting each other with unwavering kindness and compassion. I’ve never seen so much love come from our city,” she shared in part.

James Woods criticizes California leaders during fires

Actor James Woods expressed his dissatisfaction with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on X the night of January 8, sharing a screenshot of a New York Post story that claimed Bass had cut fire department funding by millions before the fires broke out.

“The key priority moving forward is not to harbor bitterness, ” he wrote. In another post, he referred to both Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom as “liberal idiots,” criticizing their understanding of fire management and water management issues.

On January 8, Politico reported that claims of funding cuts were inaccurate. It stated, “The city was negotiating a new contract with the fire department while preparing the budget, so extra funding was allocated to a separate fund until the contract was finalized in November.” Politico indicated that the fire department’s budget had actually increased by over $50 million compared to the last budget cycle, although issues regarding the department’s staffing levels have been ongoing for years.

According to the budget summaries, the fire department’s funding decreased by 2%, going from approximately $837 million in 2023 and 2024 to $819.5 million in 2024 and 2025. Nonetheless, a pie chart reflecting total spending shows the fire department’s share of the overall budget remained around 15%.

YSL News has reached out to the office of Bass for comment.

LA officials respond to accusations of fire department budget cuts

CBS News reported, “In November, the city council confirmed a four-year, $203 million contract with the firefighter’s union to increase wages and benefits for employees, which came from the general fund of the budget.”

An aide for LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield informed ABC News that the updated budget from November revealed a $53 million increase year over year.

However, various reports highlighted that LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley issued a memo on December 4 to the Board of Fire Commissioners indicating a “critical need for resource restoration” amid cuts to civilian positions and overtime staffing.

In a press conference on January 9, Bass denied that budget cuts influenced LAFD’s response. “There were no reductions that would have affected the situation we faced in the past few days,” she stated, according to CNN.

Sara Foster accuses Democratic politicians of ruining California, while Beyoncé’s mother defends LA’s mayor

Actress and producer Sara Foster echoed Woods’ sentiments in a post on X on January 8, stating, “We pay the highest taxes in California. Our fire hydrants were dry. Our vegetation was overgrown, brush left untrimmed.”

Foster called for both Bass and Newsom to resign, asserting, “Your extreme left policies have destroyed our state. And also our party.”

Tina Knowles, mother of music superstar Beyoncé, supported Bass on Instagram Thursday, sharing a Reel from creator @reeciecolbert, which suggested that the blame placed on Bass by conservative media was racially motivated and that the scale of the fire was directly linked to climate change.

“This mayor has tirelessly worked for the improvement of Los Angeles and all its communities. Another opportunity to attack a black woman in power,” Knowles wrote with the post. “Don’t fall for the hype!”

Mel Gibson holds Gavin Newsom responsible for the fires: ‘He has done nothing’

In a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” released on January 9, Mel Gibson shared that a video from his son showed his neighborhood “in flames.”

“In 2019, I believe Newsom promised, ‘I’m going to take care of the forests and manage them and all that,’ but he hasn’t done anything,” Gibson remarked. “I suspect all our tax dollars went towards Gavin’s hair gel. It’s unfortunate; the area is just burning.”

On January 8, Newsom’s office issued a press release outlining measures “the state has made efforts to shield Californians from wildfires, reportedly increasing the use of prescribed fires twofold from 2021 to 2023.

Rogan, a supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign, claimed that Governor Newsom has “destroyed the state, personally ruined it.”

Zachary Levi criticizes Gavin Newsom’s management of California’s water resources

Regarding the water reservoirs, officials confirmed that the tanks in Pacific Palisades were empty during the height of the fire. However, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power refuted assertions that they were not at full capacity.

During a press briefing on January 8, department representatives stated that the tanks began the fire at full capacity, around one million gallons each, but those supplies were depleted by that morning.

“We experienced an overwhelming demand on our system. we really pushed it to its limits,” explained Janisse Quiñones, the CEO of the LA Department of Water and Power. “The key takeaway from me today is ‘I need our customers to conserve water significantly.'”

California has faced ongoing drought conditions for years, prompting officials to often recommend that residents replace grass lawns with drought-resistant plants and reduce shower durations.

“He clearly understands that the most significant problem we face in California is these fires, alongside the mudslides that follow,” Levi stated, criticizing Newsom for doing “not just nothing, but worse than nothing.”

Levi accused Newsom of negligence, suggesting it may be intentional. He also criticized the leadership for permitting many homes in California to be denied fire insurance.

“They need to be held accountable,” he told host Jesse Watters. “This is not effective leadership.”

As insurers operate privately, government regulation over their policies is limited. However, by the end of 2024, the state’s insurance commissioner initiated measures intended to broaden insurance coverage in areas prone to wildfires, after many companies reduced their services following severe fires.

Allstate, which halted new policies in the state in 2022, expressed interest in re-entering the market following these changes, according to The New York Times.

In 2024, State Farm, the largest insurer in California, cut back on policies in the Santa Monica Mountains, causing around 70% of customers in Pacific Palisades—approximately 1,600 homeowners—to lose their coverage, as reported by the Times.

The California FAIR Plan, a state-sponsored option utilized by many left without coverage by larger insurers, has stepped in to assist some neighborhoods especially affected by fire risk.

Dean Cain believes LA fires could shift California’s political landscape

In a discussion with Fox News, Dean Cain, known for his role in “Lois & Clark,” criticized what he described as a “perfect storm of incompetence and ineffective leadership.”

Cain speculated that the devastation might influence voting patterns in Hollywood.

“I think this is going to transition a very blue state to become much more red,” he remarked.

“I’m hopeful California may become a purple state, and I empathize with those who have lost everything. I know they will face years of bureaucratic challenges and painful memories. This will mark a catastrophic period in their lives. My hope is that this experience will inspire people to vote for sensible policies and better prepare for similar disasters in the future.”

Kim Kardashian calls for better wages for incarcerated firefighters in California

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian urged for an increase in wages for incarcerated firefighters through an Instagram Story.

The founder of Skims highlighted that “there are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, risking their lives to protect us” during wildfire responses, yet they are compensated “almost nothing.”

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, over 900 incarcerated firefighters have been pivotal in the firefighting efforts, spending “countless hours cutting fire lines and clearing fuel from behind structures to curb fire spread.” These firefighters earn up to $10.24 daily, with an extra $1 per hour during emergencies, as noted by The Marshall Project. This program allows inmates to earn time off their sentences.

Kardashian appealed to Newsom, asking the governor to “raise the pay of incarcerated firefighters to a level that acknowledges the risks they take to save our lives and homes.”

She commended these firefighters, stating that they seek “to demonstrate to the community that they have turned their lives around,” referring to them as “heroes.”

Contributing: Susan Miller, Josh Peter, Adrianna Rodriguez, KiMi Robinson, and Brendan Morrow