A number of celebrities are backing the theory that arson is the cause for at least some of the wildfires devastating Los Angeles County.
Actors Henry Winkler, Alison Sweeney and singer Chris Brown are just three stars theorizing that the fires were started deliberately, as the properties of several celebrities became engulfed in the terrifying blazes
The Palisades, Eaton and Hurst wildfires have been ravaging western, eastern and northern areas of the city, respectively, since Tuesday. The death toll is at least ten, nearly 180,000 people have been evacuated and thousands of properties destroyed, with estimated damages at $150 billion.
Two more fires, Lidia, north of the city, and Kenneth, on the border of Ventura County, broke out on Wednesday and Thursday.
The celebrities' arson calls gained some credibility after Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) received a call on Thursday afternoon about a possible suspect behind the Kenneth fire.
In a 4:30 p.m. radio call, "a male was heard stating a suspect was attempting to light a fire" in Woodland Hills, at the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Los Angeles, an LAPD official told Newsweek. The call arrived about two hours after the Kenneth wildfire was first reported.
Police added that officers arrived and apprehended a suspect. But the official also said the LAPD is "continuing our investigation and cannot confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect at this time."
But this will do little to dampen down the views of A-listers and celebrities in the eye of the firestorm who have stepped forward to share their thoughts—and pin the blame firmly on arson.
Henry Winkler
In a viral social media post shared late Wednesday, veteran actor Henry Winkler theorized that an arsonist was behind the extensive fire damage.
"THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "May you be beaten you unrecognizable !!! The pain you have caused !!!"
THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA . May you be beaten you unrecognizable !!! The pain you have caused !!!
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) January 9, 2025Alison Sweeney
Days of Our Lives star Alison Sweeney has dedicated much of her X feed to reposting messages from those expressing support for Los Angeles' firefighters, as well as the thousands of residents who have been affected by the fire.
When Winkler posted his theory about an arsonist much of the devastation, Sweeney weighed in minutes later by stating that she "agreed."
Peta Murgatroyd
Dancing with the Stars professional Peta Murgatroyd took to Instagram to share a screenshot of an X post from political commentator Xaviaer DuRousseau, who wrote: "LOS ANGELES / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE MEN GOING AROUND IN SKI MASKS STARTING FIRES. KEEP AN EYE OUT."
Several hours later, she returned to the platform to state in an Instagram Story post: "The fact that more and more people are being caught lighting fires makes me sick."
Chris Brown
Singer Chris Brown included himself among the stars questioning the origin of the fires, writing in an Instagram Story post: "Someone starting these fires. S*** don't add up."
In another post on Thursday, Brown said that the firefighters and first responders should be celebrated once all is done—with credit going to the hundreds of prisoners who were drafted in to battle the expansive inferno.
"LA ... MAKE SURE YALL THROW A CEREMONY OR PARADE FOR THESE FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AFTER THIS," he wrote. "ALSO THE PRISONERS WHO WERE OUT THERE RISKING THEY LIVES NEED TIME KNOCKED OFF THEIR SENTENCES."
Andrew Huberman
Podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman shared on a viral X post on Wednesday night that showed a group standing by what appeared to be a freshly-ignited fire in the Santa Monica area.
Captioning the footage, Huberman wrote: "People are lighting fires in otherwise non-burning urban areas of L.A. Saw this happen first hand at 302 Pico in Santa Monica. Called it in & fire dept & police responded. Stay safe and call in any activity ASAP. We don't need more flames out here."
People are lighting fires in otherwise non-burning urban areas of LA. Saw this happen first hand at 302 Pico in Santa Monica. Called it in & fire dept & police responded. Stay safe and call in any activity ASAP. We don't need more flames out here. pic.twitter.com/AZ4GLr6N3q
— Andrew D. Huberman, Ph.D. (@hubermanlab) January 9, 2025Elizabeth Chambers
While Elizabeth Chambers has spent the past few years living in the Cayman Islands, the TV personality in Los Angeles, sharing in an Instagram Story post that she and her children evacuated on Tuesday as the fires raged through Pacific Palisades.
Chambers, who called the upscale area home during her former marriage to actor Armie Hammer, also questioned the source of the fires in a since-expired post, writing: "Feels like this is a lot more than nature."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency over the current fires, and officials have warned that the worst may be yet to come as extreme winds that have challenged efforts to contain the fires are expected to continue for days.
Evacuations have caused heavy traffic with some residents abandoning their cars and seeking shelter on the beach, while others, including elderly residents at a Pasadena care home, were evacuated just in time.
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