
*Tyler Perry criticized insurance companies for their “pure greed” following the destructive Los Angeles fires.
His comments came after a Los Angeles Times report revealed that major insurers, like State Farm General, had canceled thousands of policies in fire-prone areas such as Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, leaving many victims unable to recover their losses.
The wildfires, driven by strong winds and dry conditions, devastated the region last week, killing at least 24 people. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, with significant injuries reported.
“Watching a daughter use a garden hose to try and protect her 90- year-old parents’ home because their insurance was canceled was just gut-wrenching to me,” Perry wrote in his statement on Instagram.
“Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?” he continued.
“People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed,” the filmmaker added. “As I am in the process of trying to figure out what steps to take to do all I can to help as many as I can, I am keeping everyone in my prayers.”
A Los Angeles fire official described the fires as some of the most catastrophic events in the area.
“This is looking worse and worse the more information we get,” climate scientist Daniel Swain said, NBC News reports.
Here’s what we know about the wildfires via an NBC News report on Jan. 14:
- Palisades Fire: Originating in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, this brush fire grew to over 23,713 acres by Sunday night, with 17% containment. It likely damaged or destroyed 5,316 structures.
- Eaton Fire: Igniting soon after the Palisades Fire near a canyon north of downtown Los Angeles, it expanded to 14,117 acres and was 35% contained by Tuesday. Over 7,800 structures were believed to be affected.
- Hurst Fire: Beginning Jan. 7 in Sylmar, it reached 799 acres and was 97% contained as of Tuesday night, with two structures impacted.
- Auto Fire: Starting on Monday in Ventura County, it covered 56 acres by Tuesday morning with no containment reported.
The fires forced nearly 200,000 people to evacuate, and devastated entire neighborhoods, leaving many homeless.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Tyler Perry Blames WGA Racism for Avoiding Writer’s Rooms in His Projects