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The Hip-Hop icon initially received much backlash for her misunderstood wish.
Lil’ Kim’s prayers for Los Angeles rain have seemingly been answered, and fans are showing their gratitude. The Hip-Hop icon—who took to social media on Jan. 16 to “pray for a monsoon” amid the LA wild fires—is now being praised for her heartfelt plea.
“Been sending strong prayers up for LA and everyone affected by the fires,” she initially wrote on her Instagram Story. “This is heartbreaking. I pray to Jesus that God make it monsoon in LA.”
Days later, on Saturday (Jan. 25), rain finally arrived, offering relief to the exhausted firefighters battling relentless flames fueled by dry vegetation and strong winds. Heavy rains and thunderstorms are now forecast through Tuesday (Jan. 28), though the sudden showers have also triggered flood warnings in certain areas.
According to CBC, “rain fell on parts of Southern California on Sunday (Jan. 26) and the scattered showers were expected to continue overnight, boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires. Flood watches were in effect through 4 p.m. Monday (Jan. 27) for burn areas from recent fires that broke out around the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, Altadena and Castaic Lake,” said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Fans wasted no time crediting Lil’ Kim for the long-awaited rainfall. “It’s raining in LA! Everyone say thank you @LilKim,” one user wrote, while another added, “Thank you Lil Kim for the rain this weekend, couldn’t have done it without you!!”
Her initial tweet, however, had sparked some controversy, with critics pointing out that a monsoon could bring more damage to an already devastated region. In response to the backlash, she defended her statement, explaining, “What LA really needs is rain — so what’s the issue? Doesn’t everyone understand that a monsoon is heavy rain?”
While the rainfall has brought a much-needed break in the fire crisis, officials continue to warn of new dangers, including potential debris flows in burned areas. Mayor Karen Bass has issued emergency orders to expedite recovery efforts, as the city grapples with both destruction and rebuilding.
As of Jan. 24, fires across L.A. have killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 16,000 structures and charred about 76 square miles, according to CBS. Among those who lost their homes in the devastation are several celebrities, including Tina Knowles, Jhené Aiko, Keyshia Cole, and others.
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