Influencer slammed for distasteful LA fire comment
A well-known influencer is facing intense backlash after making insensitive comments about the Los Angeles wildfires that have claimed at least five lives and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Meg DeAngelis, a 29-year-old Canadian content creator with millions of followers on social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, came under fire for a selfie she shared on Wednesday.
She posted a photo of herself pouting on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “When I fled New York because it was too cold, this place literally burned down.”
DeAngelis faced backlash for her TikTok post. Megan De Angelis/Instagram
But her “joke” about ignoring New York's winter weather in favor of Los Angeles heat didn't go down well with followers on Reddit, who called her “tone-deaf” and “privileged.”
“This privilege is crazy,” one user claimed. “Oh, she was reading the room,” said another woman.
“oh my god [what the h**l] …Is it too cold in New York and “too hot” here because thousands of homes burned down and people died? ” a third was slammed.
A fourth person wrote: “It's crazy when someone who doesn't commute and doesn't want or need to leave the house says, 'I ran away from New York because it was too cold…'”
At least five people have lost their lives in the Los Angeles wildfires. AP
“And it goes without saying what an insensitive statement this is about fires,” they added.
Some criticized her for not using her huge platform to bring awareness to the situation.
“Oh, that's horribly stupid. My friend's house literally burned down! People died! Not to mention all the pets and wildlife,” one person wrote.
“What else should you expect from a disgusting but untouchable influencer? People have lost everything,” another woman pointed out.
DeAngelis wrote, “Back then it was so cold that I fled New York, and now this place is literally on fire.” Megan De Angelis/Instagram
“If there is no information that is helpful to people facing this ongoing crisis, why post? People…post on Instagram and try to make this catastrophic situation their own in some way.” We just have to get the word out about it,” another argued.
In a subsequent post, DeAngelis appeared to backtrack, posting a photo of an orange sky in California with a more serious message.
“Honestly, this is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with all wildlife and everyone affected,” she wrote.
DeAngelis later backpedaled by posting a more serious message. Anadolu (via Getty Images)
“I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I love you and be sure to check in on your friends!”
This comes after shocking photos were released on Tuesday showing a group of people stopping to take selfies in an evacuation zone near a burnt-out house.
A group of unidentified young people, believed to be influencers, were seen smiling just outside the Eaton Fire in Pasadena due to camera equipment.
“More craziness,” someone commented on X's photo.
“Oh. Disgusting,” said another, while another called the group “stupid, stupid people.”
At least five fires are still burning and around 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
Wildfires have burned more than 30,000 acres in the Los Angeles area.
A fire that tore through the Pacific Palisades has left part of the iconic Sunset Boulevard in ruins.
Asked about the total number of deaths on Thursday, the senior sheriff said: “Frankly, we don't know yet.”
Influencer slammed for distasteful LA fire comment
A well-known influencer is facing intense backlash after making insensitive comments about the Los Angeles wildfires that have claimed at least five lives and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Meg DeAngelis, a 29-year-old Canadian content creator with millions of followers on social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, came under fire for a selfie she shared on Wednesday.
She posted a photo of herself pouting on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “When I fled New York because it was too cold, this place literally burned down.”
But her “joke” about ignoring New York's winter weather in favor of Los Angeles heat didn't go down well with followers on Reddit, who called her “tone-deaf” and “privileged.”
“This privilege is crazy,” one user claimed. “Oh, she was reading the room,” said another woman.
“oh my god [what the h**l] …Is it too cold in New York and “too hot” here because thousands of homes burned down and people died? ” a third was slammed.
A fourth person wrote: “It's crazy when someone who doesn't commute and doesn't want or need to leave the house says, 'I ran away from New York because it was too cold…'”
“And it goes without saying what an insensitive statement this is about fires,” they added.
Some criticized her for not using her huge platform to bring awareness to the situation.
“Oh, that's horribly stupid. My friend's house literally burned down! People died! Not to mention all the pets and wildlife,” one person wrote.
“What else should you expect from a disgusting but untouchable influencer? People have lost everything,” another woman pointed out.
“If there is no information that is helpful to people facing this ongoing crisis, why post? People…post on Instagram and try to make this catastrophic situation their own in some way.” We just have to get the word out about it,” another argued.
In a subsequent post, DeAngelis appeared to backtrack, posting a photo of an orange sky in California with a more serious message.
“Honestly, this is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with all wildlife and everyone affected,” she wrote.
“I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I love you and be sure to check in on your friends!”
This comes after shocking photos were released on Tuesday showing a group of people stopping to take selfies in an evacuation zone near a burnt-out house.
A group of unidentified young people, believed to be influencers, were seen smiling just outside the Eaton Fire in Pasadena due to camera equipment.
“More craziness,” someone commented on X's photo.
“Oh. Disgusting,” said another, while another called the group “stupid, stupid people.”
At least five fires are still burning and around 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
A fire that tore through the Pacific Palisades has left part of the iconic Sunset Boulevard in ruins.
Asked about the total number of deaths on Thursday, the senior sheriff said: “Frankly, we don't know yet.”
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