LA Fires: Mel Gibson’s Home Destroyed as He Calls on California Governor to ‘Cut Back on Hair Gel’ | Entertainment & Arts News

Mel Gibson has expressed his devastation over the loss of his Hollywood home due to the LA wildfires, stating there’s “nothing left” and calling for accountability for the destruction.

While recording a podcast with Joe Rogan, the Braveheart star revealed he felt “a little tense” as flames consumed his Malibu mansion. However, he felt relief knowing his family was safe and a few “necessary things” like their passports had been rescued.

He described the situation as “tragic,” adding that it “makes you really sad” to witness the loss of homes. Although he characterized the lost possessions as “only things,” he noted they included “works of art, photographs, [and] rare books,” with some items dating back to the 1600s.

Regarding the response from authorities, he remarked to Fox News: “Apparently, some people were asleep on the job, mainly our leaders. That’s something they have to live with. Kids are traumatized. Someone should answer for it.”

When asked if he had a message for California Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, he quipped: “Spend less on hair gel.”

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As of now, at least 16 people have lost their lives due to the fires, prompting evacuations for more than 100,000 residents.

The fires have severely impacted multiple celebrities, devastating affluent neighborhoods in southern California, traditionally home to stars and billionaires.

Renowned British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins reportedly lost his home in the Pacific Palisades fire.

The star, well-known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, shared an Instagram message saying, “As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it’s important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give.”

The mother of British child actor Rory Sykes, 32, confirmed her son’s death in the Pacific Palisades fire. Sykes, who featured in the TV show Kiddy Kapers during the 1990s, was remembered by his mother, Shelley, who described him as her “beautiful son”. He was “born blind with cerebral palsy and had difficulty walking” but overcame numerous challenges through “surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to learn to walk”.

In a heart-wrenching statement, Paris Hilton declared that her “heart shattered into a million pieces” after seeing the remnants of her Malibu beach house. She expressed her shock and devastation at having her cherished family memories “reduced to ashes”.

Hilton, 43, shared her experience of watching her home go up in flames on TV and later posted a video from inside the charred structure. While grateful for her safety and that of her husband Carter Reum and their two children, Phoenix and London, she remains distraught.

On Instagram, she expressed: “I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable. When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock – I couldn’t process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces.”

Having lived in the multi-million-pound property for three years, Hilton reflected, “This house wasn’t just a place to live – it was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family. It was where [son] Phoenix’s little hands made art that I’ll cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes… it’s devastating beyond words.”

She added, “What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isn’t just my story. So many people have lost everything. It’s not just walls and roofs – it’s the memories that made those houses homes. It’s the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives.” Grateful for the safety of her loved ones and pets, she acknowledged her luck in surviving the tragedy and thanked the brave firefighters, first responders, and volunteers risking their lives to assist others, stating, “Even in the ashes, there is still beauty in this world.”

Hilton further shared, “This house wasn’t just a place to live – it was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family. To see it reduced to ashes is beyond devastating.”

She elaborated, “What pains me even more is that many people are going through similar emotions. It’s not merely about the buildings but about the beloved memories contained within them – photographs, treasures, and irreplaceable mementos.”

Despite her loss, she feels “incredibly lucky” that her family and pets have escaped unharmed, which she cites as the most important thing. Hilton has publicly thanked the firefighters and volunteers assisting with the crisis, remarking, “Even amidst destruction, beauty still exists in this world.”

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Furious LA woman challenges governor over wildfires response

Ricki Lake shared that she and her husband Ross faced evacuation from their “dream home,” describing their distress upon waking to “helicopters, thick black smoke, and winds howling.” While grateful for safety, she mentioned the stress of constantly checking online to see if their house had survived.

Actor Steve Guttenberg, renowned for his role in the Police Academy series, described the fires as “absolutely the worst” he has ever encountered, expressing his commitment to assist affected residents.

Other stars to have lost their homes in the fires include Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, Diane Warren, Cary Elwes, Milo Ventimiglia, Anna Faris, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Spencer Pratt, and Heidi Montag.

In response to the crisis, the Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammy Awards, and charity MusiCares have pledged $1 million (£813,000) to assist musicians impacted by the fires. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis has committed the same amount to aid fire relief efforts via her family foundation.