The recent wildfires ravaging Southern California have sparked outrage among numerous celebrities, who have publicly condemned the perceived inadequate preparation and response of state and local officials. Rhea Durham, wife of Mark Wahlberg, criticized Governor Gavin Newsom's demeanor at the Palisades Fire base camp, questioning his seemingly casual attitude amidst the crisis. Newsom's office responded, stating that moments of levity and sorrow coexist during tragedies.

Several other celebrities echoed Durham's sentiments. Actor Lorenzo Lamas expressed his anger, calling the city's leadership "despicable" for their lack of preparedness. He argued that the devastation could have been mitigated with better planning and resource allocation. Lamas, whose hometown is Pacific Palisades, lamented the destruction of beloved landmarks like Will Rogers State Park.

Sarah Michelle Gellar criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the traffic gridlock during evacuations, while Mauricio Umansky, CEO of The Agency, expressed disappointment in the government's lack of preparedness, citing insufficient brush clearance and water pressure in fire hydrants. Mel Gibson also joined the chorus of critics, blaming misallocated funds for the lack of preventative measures.

Patricia Heaton pointed fingers at budget cuts to the fire department and Mayor Bass's absence during the crisis. Valentin Chmerkovskiy questioned the state's infrastructure, while Amber Rose expressed concern over low water pressure. Sara Foster and Candace Cameron Bure criticized California's leadership for their policies. Jillian Michaels, recalling her own experience with the 2018 Woolsey Fire, criticized the state's leadership as negligent. James Woods, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, blamed politicians for the disaster.

Amid the chaos, actor Steve Guttenberg assisted firefighters by moving abandoned vehicles blocking access for emergency responders. He described the scene as resembling "Zombieland" with deserted cars littering the streets. Dean Cain attributed the inadequate response to a combination of mismanagement and leadership failure. Zachary Levi called for accountability, questioning the potential for "criminal intentionality" in the mismanagement.