A high-profile fundraiser advertised as direct financial support for California wildfire victims is facing backlash after residents said they received no aid. The FireAid concert, backed by celebrity endorsements and political support, raised over $100 million. Promoters framed it as emergency relief for families devastated by wildfires in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.
The event featured major names such as Katy Perry, Olivia Rodrigo, Lady Gaga, and several actors from popular film franchises. Prominent participants assured the public that donations would go “directly” to victims. Actor Miles Teller said, “All the money raised will go directly to people who need it now and long-term efforts to build it back.” Samuel L. Jackson echoed that message, encouraging viewers to give even if they couldn’t attend: “All the money will go directly to people who need help in the short term and the long-term effort to get this city back on its feet.”
Despite those assurances, local residents say no such aid ever arrived. Sue Pascoe, editor of Circling the News and a resident who lost her home in the Palisades fire, publicly stated that she had not received any funds. “There’s all sorts of skullduggery going on,” she said. “Wildfire victims and Palisades and Altadena got no direct relief.” Other residents echoed her concern, including David Howard, who lost two homes. “I have not seen any benefit from the FireAid money, and I am very involved here and neither have my neighbors.” Mark Jones, another victim from Altadena, asked the central question: “Where is the money? Where is it going?”
President Donald Trump addressed the issue on Friday through his Truth Social account. Calling FireAid “a total disaster,” Trump accused organizers and California Governor Gavin Newsom of mishandling both the money and the fires themselves. Trump blamed water mismanagement and delays in housing approvals for compounding the damage, adding, “All FEDERAL HOUSING PERMITS HAVE ALSO BEEN APPROVED, THE CITY IS YEARS LATE. GET THE FIRE VICTIMS THEIR APPROVALS TO REBUILD, AND DO IT NOW!”
In response to criticism, FireAid issued a statement distancing itself from the celebrity claims. The organization said, “FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan. We partnered directly with trusted local non-profits…to reach communities in need.” According to Fox News Digital, some of those nonprofits use funding for broader social objectives, including advocacy for “self-determination in the Latino community” and creating “a more humane and democratic society.” One group described its mission as cultivating “egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect.”
These revelations have sparked calls for investigation. Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has formally requested that the state Attorney General investigate where the money went and whether the public was misled.
When Americans donate to disaster relief, they expect the money to help the people who suffered the loss. Celebrity campaigns and flashy events should not override transparency or excuse vague outcomes. The disconnect between what was promised and what was delivered reveals a deeper issue in how crisis relief is managed and messaged. The result is frustration among victims, erosion of donor trust, and growing skepticism toward the institutions that claim to help in times of need.
