Social Media Calls California Fire 'An Irony Of Karma' (X image @taywhorrior)

While California‘s Los Angeles is being scorched down to ashes as the ferocious wildfires refuse to calm down at any cost, netizens can’t help it but give it back to the Hollywood actors who made controversial statements against the Palestinians in Gaza. At least 24 were killed and 13 are missing in the LA fires. More than 180,000 are evacuated, and more than reportedly are 200,000 are under the evacuation warning. Despite all the efforts from the firefighters and authorities, the wrathful fire continue to ravage the city.

Despite the firefighters had exhausted themselves to beyond their limit trying to contain the raging fireballs, dry hurricane-like wind catalyst the raging flames, sending sparks 100 meters away kindling another fire.

Social media wasted no time in letting the Hollywood stars, who lost their expensive homes in the fire, know that “this is how it feels”. The unempathetic comments are not for all, but for those who were quick in backing Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, and declared to “#KillThemAll”.

Also Read: Celebrities Who Lose Their Homes In Los Angeles Wildfire

Oscar winning Hollywood actor James Woods was the first to be rounded on by netizens. Woods garnered backlashes over his comment on Israel’s war on Gaza. Taking to his social media platform, he once commented “No ceasefire. No compromise. No forgiveness”. He also said “Thank God Israel didn’t listen to the Biden puppet masters. Nice job, by the way”. He made the comment by sharing picture of a weeping Palestinians woman in front of her home ruined in Israeli bombing.

During an interview with CNN, Woods was seen breaking down at the loss of his home. Expressing his outrage, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, expressed outrage over selective empathy. Writing on X, Abu Toha stated: “How dare you cry on air?!”

“When our house was bombed on October 28, 2023, I had no home or safe place to go, nor the luxury to watch it on TV. I still can’t return to the ruins of my house because my city is occupied”.

Prominent American Muslim scholar and activist Omar Suleiman also came forward highlighting the stark disparity in global empathy. In a post on X, Suleiman wrote: “Praying that God protect the lives and properties of innocent people in Los Angeles and beyond. But can’t help but notice this. The people of Gaza continue to be exterminated by the cruel in houses of power, with the support of the cruel who feel invincible in their mansions”.

Social media said “Woods supported policies that razed homes in Gaza, and now he watches his own home burn”.

Woods is at the centre social media wrath for entire another reason now. After crying on CNN, lamenting on his lost home, it turns out that his house survived the fire.

Jamie Lee Curtis also came under scrutiny. She earlier faced backlashes for her sharing Palestinian children’s picture and saying she support Israel. She later deleted the post. She now face backlash for comparing LA fires with Gaza. She stir up controversies during a Q&A session for her upcoming film The Last Showgirl.

Also Read: California: Cancelled Insurance Policies Leave Wildfire-Affected Homeowners In Deep Trouble

She said, “I am born and raised in the City of Angels. And the entire City of Angels is on fire, everywhere. The entire city of the Pacific Palisades is gone. I mean literally my neighborhood – gone. My house tonight is still there but I live in a different canyon. But the entire Pacific Palisades looks like, unfortunately, Gaza, or one of these war-torn countries where awful things have happened”, as per Radaronline.com.

She was now being criticised for allegedly looking down upon war-battered countries and their sufferings, and comparing the fires with Gaza. “The flippant way people talk about Gaza. As if it wasn’t a real tragedy until those scenes started being reflected in their gated communities. It’s gross”, said one social media user.

“Why would she say that? This is a completely atrocious comparison,” one comment read. “This comparison is inappropriate and lacks sensitivity to the actual experiences of those living in war-torn regions”, read another comment.

She later announced that she made a $1 million donation towards relief funds to support Los Angeles amid the destructive blazes.

US in whole became a subject of mockery for the netizens. While people sympathise with those who lost everything overnight in the wildfires, the double standards and hypocrisy shown in the case of Palestinians became the threshold of measuring the sufferings of LA.

The social media criticism points out the public frustration on the “selective empathy” displayed by public figures including prominent celebrities and politicians.

A recent report by Brown University’s Watson Institute revealed that the US has allocated $22.76 billion for military operations in the Middle East, including $17.9 billion for Israel’s war in Gaza. Reportedly, the California fire is the costliest in the history of US as it has caused over $150 billion in damages. The fire is still to be contained, which means the damages can be higher than expected. Social media posts point out that the LA wildfire is not only catastrophe, but also an irony of karma.