Curtis under fire for equating L.A. blaze to Gaza crisis

For six days, Los Angeles has been engulfed by massive fires. According to CNN and BBC, 24 people have already died, and dozens are considered missing. The fire is destroying areas in three locations: Eaton, Hurst, and Pacific Palisades, where the most homes have burned down. The latest data from CNN indicates that the fire has consumed approximately 5,000 homes. The most discussed are the losses suffered by celebrities. Homes have been lost by, among others, Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, and Jeff Bridges, but let's not forget about the thousands of other Los Angeles residents who did not have millions like the stars.

One of the stars who has been showing what is happening in Los Angeles in recent days is actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The star of "The Bear" informed on her Instagram profile that she was evacuated with her family, but her property was not threatened by the fire. However, a large part of her neighbourhood and the church where she received help in fighting addiction burned down.

The actress, who is vocal in her appeals for help for Los Angeles residents, sparked considerable controversy by comparing the fires in Los Angeles to the situation in war-torn Middle Eastern countries. "The whole of Pacific Palisades looks like Gaza or other countries where terrible events have happened," Curtis said during a Q&A session for the film "The Last Showgirl." Her statement did not go unnoticed.

The actress's words met with a wave of criticism on social media. Users on platforms like X pointed out that comparing the fires to war zones is inappropriate and diminishes the destruction of each of these events. "Do not compare a natural disaster to genocide!" wrote one of the netizens. Let us add that since October 2023, over 40,000 Palestinians are said to have died in the Gaza Strip. However, it is said this number is greatly underestimated because many bodies remain buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed in air raids. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, almost half a million people in the Gaza Strip will experience extreme hunger in the coming months.

Recently, the actress appealed for support for fire victims, encouraging help to organizations such as the Red Cross. Curtis and her family pledged to donate $1 million to the support fund for those affected. "Do everything you can to help," she wrote on Instagram.

The fires in Los Angeles, including the largest in Pacific Palisades and Eaton, have already burned over 140 square kilometres. Firefighters are working tirelessly to control the situation. This week, a person suspected of arson was arrested, but no charges were brought due to a lack of evidence. According to the report, the fires could cause damages amounting to $150 billion, making them the most expensive in U.S. history.