Mark Owen's wife angrily hits back at claims LA fires are 'celebrity housing crisis'

Mark Owen’s wife Emma has released an update on social media after the Take That star and his family had to flee their LA home due to the wild fires and are now worried for their close friend who stayed behind

Mark Owen’s wife Emma has shared an emotional update on the fires in Los Angeles, hitting back at those who have called the disaster a ‘celebrity crisis.’

Emma, who previously shared a video of the fires as she and her family evacuated their home, took to Instagram on Thursday 9 January from her hotel room to urge people to realise that the majority of those affected by the fires aren’t celebrities, and instead are normal people who have lost everything in a matter of hours. She spoke about the situation in the city, how frightened everyone is, and how people are worried that if they fall asleep they will miss an evacuation alert.

She said residents whose fire insurance had been cancelled are staying behind to fight fires themselves to protect their homes, and spoke about her friend Joyce, who has remained at home. “I’ve been watching it and honestly I don’t give a s*** about my house,” she said, holding back tears. “I just want Joyce to be safe – I’ve got my kids, my husband, my animals, just take my house, and save Joyce and other people who have stayed behind.”

“I hate that this has been publicised as a ‘celebrity crisis.’ That is 5% of California – the major foundation of California is the workers, and they are people who have nothing left, no insurance, no where to escape to, rescue shelters are overrun. I don’t want you thinking ‘it’s LA, they are all rich, they’ll be fine’ - no! There are thousands of people who are not okay.”

“I hate the way this is being represented,” she continued. “About rich celebrities – it’s not about that, it’s about real people.” She revealed that they picked up her daughter’s best friend, whose house had burned down, and she was absolutely floored when the friend gave her daughter Fox a pair of trousers as she was worried she had no clothes to change into.

“I’ve been in awe of this city and I am seeing so much humanity around me – the hotels are being so amazing, decreasing prices and the staff are being so caring, and the fire fighters and first responders… it takes my breath away, the strength and resilience of this city,” she added.

Emma explained that her family have had to split up, with Emma and her two daughters in a hotel with some of their animals, while Mark is at his recording studio with their dogs and cats, and their 18 year old son Elwood is with his girlfriend, but she is hoping they will reunite by the weekend, outside of Los Angeles.

The family also have a horse, which has been taken to safety, though she added that the area where it has been taken to is now under threat as well, so she was trying to get the horse relocated again.

Emma also praised the schools who are helping, as well as hotels and Air BnB who are allowing people to arrive with animals, while restaurants are donating meals for free. “That is so touching and humbling,” she said. “It is shocking here, and I don’t want to use words like ‘apocalypse’ and ‘biblical’ but it is shattered, it is ravaged, it is beyond anything you can comprehend.”

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