On the morning of January 7th, people were stirred from their sleep by the persistent buzzing of their phones and the sound of sirens rushing through the streets. The scent of smoke confronted the hikers from their once-clear trails. Meanwhile, the crisis drew the world through News broadcasts on television – The LA Wildfires had just begun.
To further clarify, the fires that have swept through California in recent years are believed to have occurred primarily by a combination of prolonged drought, high winds, and, in some cases, suspected arson. These fires have caused tens of thousands of residents, including high-profile celebrities, to evacuate their homes, with as many as 100,000 returning to find their homes reduced to ashes, reducing the unprivileged’s lucidity to ashes while displacing them from places they once called home. Even though the rich have also been affected by the loss of their homes, their response to the fires has, for some, been unexpectedly surprising. The general public has perceived them to be solely concerned with their interests.
In this context, celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Halle Berry, and others have played a pivotal role in helping those affected by the catastrophic fires. By leveraging their extensive social media platforms, they have raised millions for relief efforts and donated some of their personal belongings to the victims. Sharon Stone, for example, has been housing people who are taking refuge in her home. At the same time, Jennifer Lopez has donated a significant portion of her closet to “A-list,” a Los Angeles-based marketing agency. Others, like Beyonce, have donated millions of dollars to the catastrophe. Many of those well-known figures have extended their heartfelt condolences to the families and children impacted by the fires.
“My heart goes out to everyone affected by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. I can’t even imagine how deeply traumatic these events can be, especially for children who’ve lost their homes and sense of security.”
-Jennifer Lopez
With this in mind, as the renowned author William Shakespeare famously wrote in one of his most prominent plays,” Macbeth,”Foul is fair, and fair is foul,” a sentiment that, in my opinion, resonates with how celebrities are perceived. They are often regarded as self-centered and detached from the world’s struggles. However, many have demonstrated their care for the globe and the people, contradicting popular stereotypes. As the proverb suggests, what is often perceived as unfavorable from an external perspective may be virtuous and vice versa. Their efforts, directed towards educating others about what’s going on in the world, activism, and charity, have shown that they have empathy for others. Thus, the dichotomy between appearance and reality reminds us not to judge others hastily.
