Kylie Jenner Is Catching Heat as She’s Branded a 'Climate Criminal' During LA Wildfires

The Los Angeles wildfires aren’t just burning down celebrity mansions — they’re devastating entire communities from all walks of life. While some famous folks like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry masked up and joined first responders to distribute food and support families displaced by the fires, some stars have taken a less grounded approach to their involvement — or lack thereof.

Enter Kylie Jenner, whose $70 million Bombardier Global 7500 private jet has drawn criticism in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires. Since January 1, the jet has flown 11 times, emitting a jaw-dropping 162 tons of CO2 and earning her the name “climate criminal” online.

To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the yearly electricity usage of 33 homes, as calculated by DailyMail. Flights have included a baffling 15-minute trip from Los Angeles to Camarillo, spewing one ton of CO2. “THREE times in one day?! Surely the effort of getting on a plane 3 times in a day outweighs just getting in a car?!” ranted one Reddit commenter. 

The backlash hit peak turbulence when Jenner’s cosmetics brand posted a statement about the wildfires, mentioning how “heartbroken” they were by the devastation and announcing a donation of (what is likely tax-deductible) skincare to affected teens. Critics were quick to pounce on the hypocrisy. “Taking a private jet to Paris and putting a bandaid on LA fire victims with your lotion is horrific,” one pointed out, considering how big of an impact private jet flights have on CO2 emissions. 

“While the Kardashians / Jenners are getting backlash from everywhere for their wasteful use of water and PJs. Kylie and Tim both used the jet twice since the fires started in LA. Look, they are now heading to London for his Premiere and he will show on the red carpet giving lessons and fake words for the victims just like his GF posting a sweet story before boarding her jet. Do you think they had a laugh when they flew in her jet over the fire in LA?” added another Redditor. 

It gets worse. Fans allege that a link Jenner shared to support wildfire victims instead redirected to a promotional page for her vodka soda brand, Sprinter. Meanwhile, Markle and Prince Harry partnered with World Central Kitchen to lift spirits and provide meals to affected locals in Altadena. Even Jenner’s older sister, Kim Kardashian, shifted her PR focus to highlight incarcerated firefighters risking their lives for as little as $5 a day — this after facing criticism for promoting her SKIMS brand during the early stages of the fire. 

Even Spencer Pratt is hustling with integrity during the wildfires, earning on TikTok to help recoup his and Heidi Montag’s losses until the app shut down for U.S. users last night,. Meanwhile, Jenner’s jet-setting lifestyle continues to face sharp criticism, and given everything that Los Angeles has been through in the past couple weeks, it feels crass and careless. 

Of course, Jenner’s not alone in the skies — and Super Bowl weekend in 2024 served as an infamous reminder of private aviation’s unchecked footprint. Last year, 882 private jets, including one from Taylor Swift’s fleet and countless others from CEOs and other incredibly wealthy people, swarmed Las Vegas, turning the skies into a foggy metaphor for environmental apathy. While celebs like Jenner and Swift catch flak for their frequent flights, they’re just the visible tip of a much larger iceberg. 

Even with tax credits meant to offset emissions, billionaires like Jenner and Swift hardly notice the impact. Jenner’s 15-minute flights against LA’s burning hills highlight these contradictions. Maybe it’s time for stars to swap jets for high-speed trains — or invest in carbon offsets that truly matter, rather than relying on tax write-offs that don’t affect their wealth or encourage real change, but simply offer a feel-good factor.

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