Mel Gibson reveals his LA house burned down while he was on Joe Rogan podcast blasting California governor Gavin Newsom
OSCAR-winner Mel Gibson has revealed his Malibu house burned down while he was away blasting the California governor on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
The American actor was bashing Gavin Newsom over his handling of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires when raging flames engulfed his luxurious mansion.
Mel, who owns a rustic $14.5million mansion in Malibu, said the property was “completely toasted” when he returned home after recording the podcast.
He said he was “kind of ill at ease” as he kept thinking about the devastating LA fires in his neighborhood during his chat with the podcaster.
The Patriot actor told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports he was left “devastated” looking at the aftermath.
He added: “I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, ‘I wonder if my place is still there.
“But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I had never seen such a complete burn.
“It is obviously devastating, it’s emotional. I lived there for about 15 years so it was home to me.”
“There was nothing left but a chimney and a few roof tiles, and you dare not walk around for the nails and the whole deal. The vehicles were gone, everything.”
It came just hours after Mel finished recording a podcast with Rogan where he ripped into the California governor.
Gibson said Newsom did not follow through on things he said he would do to help prevent wildfires when he first took office.
He told Joe: “In 2019, I think Newsom said, ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest’ and do all that kind of stuff.
“I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel,” Gibson later quipped. It’s sad. The place is just on fire.”
WORST FIRE IN LA’S HISTORY
Raging wildfires have through Los Angeles – killing ten people and destroying 10,000 homes.
Out-of-control flames have been tearing through neighborhoods for days as fierce winds threaten to fuel the towering infernos.
Palisades – the largest fire of all seven currently burning – has destroyed more than 5,000 homes and structures in its path.
A bushfire is said to have started the wildfire in the Palisades on Tuesday, which had grown to more than 15,000 acres by the next morning.
It is said to be the most destructive wildfire in LA’s history and has burned massive swathes of land along the coast.
Parts of Sunset Boulevard have been torched in that blaze, leaving one of the world’s most iconic streets in rubble and buildings gutted.
Kenneth Fire, another raging inferno, has sparked mass evacuations in Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
It is being investigated as arson – with one suspect arrested.
Meanwhile, the out-of-control Eaton Fire has now wrecked up to 5,000 houses as the blaze spread to almost 14,000 acres on Thursday.
Other fires in the region include the SunSet Fire, which is ravaging Hollywood Hills.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said areas of the city “look like a bomb was dropped in them” – branding the fires a “crisis”.
The devastating fires are set to have a costly impact on the city and its residents – with private forecaster Accuweather estimating the total damage and economic loss up to $150 billion.
Meanwhile, satellite pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The snaps show before, during, and after the uncontrolled blazes have burned through LA homes and celebrity enclaves and caused thousands to flee.
Neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, with celebrities including John Goodman and Leighton Meester watching their pads burn down.
Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.
Celebrities lose homes to wildfires
The wildfires haven't spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
Those who have had their homes burned down include:
- John Goodman
- Anthony Hopkins
- Paris Hilton
- Leighton Meester and Adam Brody
- Billy Crystal
- Miles Teller
- Eugene Levy
- Anna Faris
- Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
- James Woods
- Hunter Biden
- Mel Gibson
Other celebrities have been forced to flee their homes after evacuation orders were issued around the Palisades fire and the Sunset fire.
They include:
- Mark Hamill
- Mandy Moore
- Tom Hanks
- Reese Witherspoon
- Ben Affleck
CELEBS REELING
The wind-fuelled flames haven’t spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
Supermodel Bella Hadid, 28, shared her heartbreak with her millions of followers after her childhood home was burnt to the ground.
The ultra-luxury property – which was once where Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda once lived and raised Bella and fellow model sister Gigi – has been completely decimated in the blaze.
Socialite Paris Hilton revealed her $8.4 million waterfront Malibu mansion had been turned to ash by the wind-fuelled blazes.
She has since made an emotional return to the charred remains, calling her heartbreak at what has happened “truly indescribable”.
Meanwhile, Spencer Pratt had to watch on in horror as the home he shares with his wife Heidi Montag burned to the ground.
Today The Hills star was captured going through burned rubble at what was his Pacific Palisades home which was completely destroyed by the Palisades fire.
Other celebrities like Tom Hanks, 68, and Steven Spielberg, 78, had their homes narrowly spared in the fires.
The rapid Kenneth blaze is already encompassing nearly 1000 acres, threatening all the Kardashian clan’s homes in the Hidden Hills.
Kim lives with her children in her $60 million pad that’s at risk of being decimated by the flames, alongside her mom Kris’ home, and sisters Khloe and Kylie.
'War zone' LA feels 'broken' as fires still ravage the city - but we will rebuild
The U.S. Sun’s Assistant Editor for Exclusives Katy Forrester is an LA resident and she witnessed first-hand the horror as flames engulfed the city. She said the city feels like a “war zone
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.