This month, people all across America have been watching the news in horror, seeing the mass destruction caused by the recent wildfires burning across Los Angeles County. The fires left several neighborhoods completely leveled, and thousands of people are now displaced, wondering what steps to take next after this tragedy.
Because of Hollywood’s location in Los Angeles County, these fires are majorly impacting the entertainment industry and the lives of celebrities. Many stars were forced to evacuate, and several celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, and Mandy Moore, lost their homes to the fires (click here to see a full list). In addition, the fires impacted the filming of TV shows and other Hollywood events. ABC and CBS both temporarily halted production, and several films postponed their premieres. The fires forced the Critics Choice Awards to be postponed, and the announcement of Oscar nominations was delayed until January 23.
On January 30, musicians united at two Los Angeles venues for the FireAid concert. This massive event featured performances by Green Day, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, No Doubt, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Earth Wind & Fire, Lady Gaga, and many more (click here to see a full list of performers and highlights). All proceeds from the concerts supported recovery efforts to help rebuild LA County neighborhoods destroyed by the fires. The concert was streamed on all major platforms, generating a large audience that helped to raise millions of dollars for its cause.
Performers paid many tributes to the city of Los Angeles and the state of California throughout the night. Dr. Dre performed Tupac Shakur’s “California Love,” Katy Perry performed her hit “California Gurls,” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ set included “Dani California” and “Californication.” Gwen Stefani altered the lyrics of her band No Doubt’s big hit, singing “I’m just a girl from LA.” As she performed her song “Thank U,” Alanis Morissette thanked first responders, with social media posts expressing gratitude appearing on the screen behind her. The Pasadena Chorale joined Katy Perry onstage to sing “Rise.” The nearly six-hour-long concert concluded with Lady Gaga performing an original song. She told the audience that she wanted to end the night with something hopeful, so she wrote a new song “just for tonight, just for you.”
Between performances, footage showing the horrific reality of the fires was shown. Stories were shared by people who lost everything to the fires, and by the heroic firefighters who risked their lives to save people, pets, and homes from the flames. In addition, people who were personally affected by the fires, including a teacher, a firefighter, and a ten-year-old boy who all lost their homes, were welcomed onto the stage throughout the night.
One of the most powerful moments was a speech by actor Billy Crystal, which included many emotional moments as he talked about his experience of losing his home. He made sure to mix in a few moments of comedic relief as he reminded viewers about the power of laughter. He told viewers that the only thing that survived the fire was a rock that said “laughter.” “Even in your worst pain,” he said, “it’s okay to laugh.”
Billy Crystal’s message perfectly captured FireAid’s mission. As we grieve the devastation caused by the fires, it is also important to stay hopeful and look out for the joyful moments in life. The FireAid concert reminded us of the enormous impacts the fires had on so many lives, but it also provided us with a glimmer of hope. The performances gave Californians and Americans across the country an opportunity to be joyful, engaging with music from some of the most talented artists. The concert reminded us that nothing truly brings people together like music, and with the donations raised by so many generous viewers, the people of LA County will soon rise from the ashes.
Junior Carrie Teti is the Arts and Leisure Editor. Her email is cteti@fandm.edu