Celebrities are not the only victims of the Palisades Fire

Megan Lee | The Chronicle 

 Starting on January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire spread over 23,000 acres, devastating the city of Los Angeles. 

The state of California is no stranger to wildfires. But for some reason, this blazing storm gained a lot more attention from the media, with every news outlet across the country broadcasting the state of the damage. Without warning, our favorite celebrities are being displaced, the Hollywood sign is in flames and even the east coast seems to feel the weight of this fire.

While my heart goes out to the people who have felt the effects of this tragic fire, it pains me to see that this media coverage is focusing more on the lives of public figures, most of which are far from the range of the fire. According to ABCNews, there have been 27 deaths from the Palisades Fire, none of which are celebrities or public figures. In truth, the fires impacted more than just the beloved city of Hollywood, and we have to pay just as much respect to the citizens of Los Angeles as we do to the famous. 

In the weeks after the fires, I could not open Instagram without seeing a new graphic about a celebrity’s burnt down house – most of which were proven to be AI, photoshopped or not their house at all. Each post had hundreds of thousands of comments sending thoughts and prayers to the celebrity. While frantic Instagram users were commenting and reposting these disturbing photos, the Red Cross Los Angeles Instagram account was receiving no more than a hundred likes on their fundraiser campaigns – campaigns that are raising money to help those suffering from the flames’ destruction.

I can not say that I am surprised about the media’s fixation on Hollywood’s most famous, but I am uncomfortable at the thought of ordinary citizens’ struggles going unnoticed. As a society we are prone to both producing and consuming scripted, unrealistic and fake news that can be detrimental to communities. I urge you to not fall victim to the deceit of click bait. 

One of the first stories I read when the Palisades Fire started was about Leighton Meester, a 38 year old actress who starred as Blair Waldorf in the hit 2007’s show “Gossip Girl”. As a result of the flames, Meester and her husband Adam Brody lost their house just a few days after making an appearance at the 2025 Golden Globes. What originally seemed like a sad story quickly turned into one of hope and gratitude. The next day, my TikTok for you page and Instagram recommended were swarmed with fans urging other supporters to listen to Meester’s music to raise money in light of her loss. Meester had not published new music since the conclusion of “Gossip Girl” in 2014, but the support from fans was a small but effective gesture to help her repair her home. 

After the fire subsided, my heart was happy to see celebrities who came out with statements of support towards fellow victims of the storm, such as Taylor Swift, Halle Berry and Demi Lovato. They are using their status and wealth to promote relief for all victims, not just those of Hollywood

Stories like Meester’s and the positive community support from other public figures reminds us that while in times of crisis, it does not matter if you are wealthy, famous or a celebrity. We can all help each other, big or small. 

Fortunately, I have never experienced the loss that comes with these natural disasters, but that does not mean that we, as daily casual scrollers or viewers, can not make a difference. The little efforts we can make, such as liking a video, donating a dollar or reaching out to those in need, does more for the victims than we could ever imagine. 

  It is important to note that tragedies such as the wildfires affect the average American, not just the elite. As a high school journalist, I hope that as we move into 2025, we as the media can collectively aim towards making more empathetic and understanding strides when covering disaster. 

If you feel connected to these issues, or just want to provide support, I urge you to inform yourself and stay away from headlines that distract from what we can actually do to help. Reach out to the Red Cross or other crisis relief lines – make your efforts count. We say that disaster connects us, so let us prove it.