Lucy Devine
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have responded to backlash after a GoFundMe page was set up for them following the Los Angeles wildfires.
Earlier this month, a number of different wildfires rapidly spread across California after first emerging in Pacific Palisades.
As firefighters and responders worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, high speed winds, and dry conditions resulted in the 'perfect storm', allowing the fire to spread thousands of acres over the following days.
While the two largest fires in Palisades and Eaton are still burning, progress has been made in keeping the blaze contained.
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Sadly, at least 27 people have been killed in the wildfires and more than 12,000 structures destroyed.
One home that was completely devastated in the fire belongs to Spencer and Heidi Montag. Thankfully, the family were able to escape the blaze, but are now left to face the aftermath.
On Friday (January 10), Pratt announced his intentions to file a lawsuit against the State of California as a result of alleged negligence that led to the celeb couple losing their home.
The former reality TV star explained to Perez Hilton how he sought the help of Los Angeles Fire Department as his house went up in flames.
He said: "They never came. The gate was still locked. They never came. I watched from my security cameras until our house burned down. There were no fire trucks."
Pratt previously expressed his devastation at recent events, telling his followers on TikTok: “I know people are like, ‘You’re rich, you will be fine.’ Yeah, I wish. Everything in our house was paid for by Heidi and I hustling any way we could.
"Everything we have worked for was in this house… we are starting at zero now.”
Days later, two of the couple's friends set up a GoFundMe page for the family, which has so far raised over $135,000.
It explains: "Spencer, Heidi, and their boys lost everything in the Pacific Palisades fire.
"I set this up for them to help them rebuild after losing everything they owned in the fire. The money will go directly to them and it will be used at their discretion to rebuild their lives. They need to buy everything, clothes, food, household items, etc."
The couple, who once starred in The Hills, have received some backlash over the page, with many wondering whether they need donations.
However, Spencer set the record straight, telling US Weekly: "Nobody thought we were rich celebrities until three days ago and it’s getting frustrating. Like if you Google ‘Spencer,’ it literally [says] 'Broke, no net worth'.
"My net worth on that site that you search for the last 15 years... has been $1,000. So now our house burns down, my parents’ house burns down [and] now we’re rich celebrities, which is infuriating because the media, respectfully, has never called us celebrities [and] never called us rich."
The pair have been open about their fortune in the past.
In a 2016 PEOPLE article, the couple spoke about how they ended up spending the fortune they had amassed from their reality TV fame, including $1million on Heidi’s wardrobe, staff and bodyguards, lavish dinners and a $1million crystal collection.
“I was kind of playing house,” said Heidi.
“I felt like I was someone I wasn’t. We had business managers who told us to stop spending but we acted like we knew what we were doing.”