Deadly wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles have displaced more than 100,000 residents, including a number of artists seeking funds to remain afloat and eventually repair the damage. A friend of Diiv’s Zachary Cole Smith launched a GoFundMe after the musician was forced to evacuate his home, with his pregnant wife and two-year-old son, following the destruction of the house, a car, musical equipment, and other possessions. Indie rapper Fat Tony is also raising funds after losing his Altadena home and his belongings in the fires. “I’m not the only one suffering through this moment and feel for everyone in our city dealing with loss,” he wrote, adding that he does not have renter’s insurance but would donate surplus funds to Pasadena Humane Society.
Both Smith’s campaign and Fat Tony’s have exceeded their respective goals of $30,000 and $20,000. Other safe evacuees include Grimes, Cher, Hand Habits, Machinedrum, and Kid Cudi, who wrote in an Instagram story, “Had to evacuate my crib. I’m safe with my loved ones. Dogs are safe. For all the folks who lost their homes, people that are dealing with this, my heart hurts for you and I’m praying for us all and I send ALL my love to you and yours. If you have to evacuate, get out immediately. Don’t hesitate.”
Photay wrote on an Instagram story that he had escaped but his home is “100% gone,” a fate shared by Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith and his wife, Mandy Moore, who escaped before their house was destroyed. Diane Warren, meanwhile, said her beach home of 30 years had burned down. The spread of fires in Malibu also reached Harbor Studios, whose recent output includes Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 and parts of Doja Cat’s Scarlet. Studio founder Zach Brandon wrote on Instagram that he had already begun planning the rebuild.
On the fundraising page for Zachary Cole Smith, the family wrote in an update on Thursday morning, “the depth of kindness we have experienced today from our friends, our family, our neighbors, fellow parents, fellow altadena residents, and complete strangers has been truly unbelievable. we are just one of many, many families who have lost their homes today. some of the most profound kindness we’ve experienced today has been from other families who lost their homes as well. we are not alone, which has brought us a lot of sadness but also a strange sense of comfort and community.”
Canceled events in the Los Angeles area include a Rod Wave concert at Intuit Dome and the filming of Jimmy Kimmel Live! The Critics Choice Awards, set to take place on Sunday, have been postponed, as has an Academy Awards nominations announcement set for January 17. That has been pushed back two days, along with the closure of the voting window.
The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Tyler, the Creator, Sky Ferreira, Amber Coffman, Cat Power, Michael Stipe, and many other artists did not disclose their status, but shared links to resources including LAFD Foundation, California Community Foundation, and Mutual AID LA Network. Billie Eilish linked to the Los Angeles Fire Department and wrote in an Instagram story, “What’s going on in LA right now is sooo scary and devastating.” Head to the Los Angeles County emergency page for urgent evacuation updates.
