Featured Image Credit: Insatgram/mandymooremm
Topics: California, Celebrity, GoFundMe, Los Angeles, Social Media, Wildfires
Liv Bridge
Topics: California, Celebrity, GoFundMe, Los Angeles, Social Media, Wildfires
Mandy Moore has issued a response rant after followers accused her of asking for money to support her family affected by the LA wildfires.
The actor and singer is one of hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by the raging Californian wildfires, as five fires rampage through Los Angeles neighborhoods having already destroyed thousands of buildings, homes and acres of land.
The death toll currently stands at 10 but the authorities fear the forecast of more high winds is only going to fan the flames further and potentially claim more lives.
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At a White House briefing on Thursday (January 9), President Joe Biden pledged the federal government will support California's efforts to tackle the inferno with 100 percent of financial support for 180 days.
However, thousands have lost everything already, including Moore's relatives who have been left homeless from the fires.
The 'Candy' hitmaker said her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Griff and Katt Goldsmith, lost their home and 'everything they own' in the Eaton fire, just weeks before the expected arrival of their first baby.
The fundraiser, set up by Hilary Duff's husband, Matthew Koma, details Griff, a touring musician, lost all of his drums and studio gear in the fire, adding the kit helps him to 'make a living'.
Moore shared several fundraisers to her millions of Instagram followers, including a GoFundMe to help her relatives.
However, the Hollywood star was apparently met with backlash for sharing it as she snapped to her followers: "People questioning whether we’re helping out our own family or attributing some arbitrary amount of money Google says someone has is NOT helpful or empathetic. Of course we are.
"Our buddy Matt started this GoFundMe and I’m sharing because people have asked how they can help them."
Her comment comes as fans have pointed out Moore has an estimated net worth of $14 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth, and slammed her appeal as distasteful.
One follower penned in a comment on Instagram: "Yikes... Not a good look from someone of her means.
"The audacity of a multimillionaire asking everyday people who live paycheck to paycheck to donate to her family member, when she could easily give the full goal amount without it affecting her family financially in anyway."
Another added: "Wow millionaires having GoFundMe's. Just the nerve."
"You have an obscene amount of money," a third claimed. "I think you could help your own family and also some others while you’re at it."
Yet in an apparent edit to her Instagram post, Moore addressed the angry comments, writing: "We just lost most of our life in a fire too.
"Kindly F OFF. No one is forcing you to do anything."
The star previously revealed her home had been partially burned down but that 'everyone we know lost everything', including the houses on her street.
However, some appeared to defend Moore amid the criticism, writing that the apparent 'trolls' lacked empathy to her situation.
One commenter posted: "What is with the lack of compassion? Everyone in these areas lost everything including Mandy. Let’s lift each other up.
"Celebrity or not, she’s just a person and she’s asking for help for her family. Anyone would do the same."
You can support those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.