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Chuck D has hit out at those using Public Enemy‘s ‘Burn Hollywood Burn’ incorrectly to celebrate the ongoing disastrous LA wildfires.
A series of wildfires engulfed Los Angeles earlier this week (January 7) and are still burning strong. The ongoing fires have forced over 170,000 residents out of their homes, with thousands of houses, vehicles and more being destroyed.
The hip-hop icon took to his official Instagram page to share a photo of a fire engulfing a Los Angeles corner with the caption “PRAYERS UP. BE SAFE. EVACUATE.” The photo also shows a list of the ongoing fires in California including Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia and Sunset and how contained they currently are. All but Lidia and Hurst remain uncontained while Lidia is at 40 per cent containment and Hurst is at 10 per cent containment.
Though many have been devastated by the horrors of the wildfires, some people have taken to social media to celebrate the tragic natural disasters and have chosen Public Enemy’s 1990 track ‘Burn Hollywood Burn’ as a celebratory anthem.
“Burn Hollywood Burn … like my friend Chuck D once said,” tweeted one used with a fake photo of the Hollywood sign on fire. Another X/Twitter user shared: “Chuck D prophesied this shit Burn Hollywood Burn.”
Like Chuck D wrote, “Burn Hollywood Burn!”
— Bodycrab (@Bodycrabb) January 9, 2025
Burn Hollywood Burn … like my friend Chuck D once said.#newsom #zeudi #helena #sstvi #GrandeFratello #shailenzo #zelena #trump #pallisadesfire #California pic.twitter.com/5pq1WRCpCJ
— MAGAnificent Bill 💵 (@STOCKACTIVATION) January 9, 2025
Now, Chuck D has taken to his Instagram account to share a statement that read: “‘Burn Hollywood Burn’ is a protest song extracted from the Watts rebellion monikered by the magnificent Montague in 1965 against inequality when he said ‘burn baby burn’ across the air. We made mind-revolution songs aimed at a one-sided exploitation by an industry.”
He added that the track “has nothing to do with families losing everything they have in a natural disaster. Learn the history. Godspeed to those in loss.”
Elsewhere, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan shared a video from the balcony of the residency his family is currently staying at which showed the smoke from the fires. The caption of his post revealed that he and his family had to evacuate from where they were staying and shared that the situation in Los Angeles is “very overwhelming and at times chaotic but our love to the first responders who so courageously run into these situations.”
He continued, saying that he is “praying for everyone today as hopefully this can come under control for the entire area, which is vast in scope and so full of nature. The loss overall is awful and unspeakable and that is what I wish to highlight; as the fires touch every strata of society.”
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker‘s children – Landon and Alabama – recently shared that they had to evacuate their home. “Just evacuated praying for everyone the fires have [affected],” wrote Landon in his Instagram story while his sister shared various resources for those needing help and wrote: “Just evacuated from my home due to wildfires in Los Angeles, please be safe !! They are saying the fires are spreading football field amounts in seconds.” In a separate story, she wrote: “Pray for California.”
The entertainment world has been reacting to the current state of the wildfires with Star Wars legend Mark Hamill sharing that he had to evacuate from his home in Malibu. Mandy Moore and James Woods were also among those who have fled their home in the state with the latter breaking down on television while discussing the loss of his home. He had documented the destruction as he fled to safety.
One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone” he told CNN, after confirming the fire had claimed his house in Pacific Palisades. He also broke down recalling his eight-year-old niece’s innocent offer of help. “She came out with her little Yeti piggy bank, for us to rebuild our house” he said while wiping away tears.
A fundraiser for DIIV’s frontman Zachary Cole Smith was launched after his house succumbed to the fires. According to the GoFundMe campaign launched by their friend Lindsey Hartman, Smith and his family are safe but have unfortunately had their house burnt and destroyed in the fires.
Hartman wrote: “Dani is also six months pregnant, making this already horrifying event even more impossible to bear. This home included all of their possessions (clothing, heirlooms, prized possessions) as well as all of Cole’s musical gear, the family car, and all of their baby supplies for Roy and the newborn on the way.”
The Kills‘ frontwoman Alison Mosshart recently hit out at Donald Trump amid the ongoing wildfires in California, saying it will be “harder” to rebuild communities once he is in power.
Musicians like Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande were quick to share links to resources on social media, while others detailed their experiences with evacuation. Others also shared their sympathies with the people affected by the tragedies as thousands of homes, belongings and more are being burnt to the ground.
Comedian Billy Crystal and TV personality Paris Hilton are also among the many who have lost their homes in devastating wildfires. Crystal, known for his roles in Monsters, Inc and When Harry Met Sally, confirmed in a statement that his Pacific Palisades home that he has lived in for 46 years has been destroyed.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing,” he said. “We ache for our friends and neighbours who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979.
“We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this”.
Praying for our beautiful city🥺So heartbroken to see it burning down like this💔 pic.twitter.com/DqS18IveIi
— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) January 9, 2025
Hilton shared her experience watching her home burn on television. “Heartbroken beyond words” she wrote on Instagram. “Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. This home was where we built so many precious memories”.
Cary Elwes, best known for starring in The Princess Bride and Saw, wrote on his Instagram account “sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire”
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