Mandy Moore is firing back at critics. The actress and singer faced heat for sharing GoFundMe links on Instagram. She did this after revealing her family was affected by the devastating California fires.
Moore, like many LA residents, had to evacuate her home. The fires swept through several parts of the area. On Wednesday, she shared her heartbreak in an Instagram post.
“I love you, Altadena,” she wrote alongside a video of smoke-filled skies and burning homes. “Grateful for my family and pets getting out last night before it was too late. Endless gratitude to friends for taking us in and bringing us clothes and blankets.”
A community in ruins
The This Is Us star’s emotions poured out. “Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family. My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control.”
Moore continued updating her followers. She revealed her family home was “mostly intact” but “not livable.” Sadly, her neighbors weren’t as lucky. Every house on her street was “gone.” This included her brother and sister-in-law’s home. She admitted to feeling “survivor’s remorse” over her situation.
Sharing resources and facing criticism
In response to the destruction, Moore sprang into action. She shared resource links on her Instagram Story to help those in need. She also posted GoFundMe accounts, including one for her in-laws. They were just weeks away from welcoming their first child when the fire struck.
However, her actions didn’t sit well with everyone. Some criticized her for asking fans to donate instead of using her own wealth. Many pointed out she has “millions in the bank” and should contribute more herself.
Mandy Moore claps back
Moore addressed the backlash directly. She added a heated response to her original post. “And people questioning whether we’re helping out our own family or attributing some arbitrary amount of money Google says someone has is NOT helpful or empathetic. Of course we are.”
She also defended the GoFundMe campaign for her in-laws. “Our buddy Matt started this GoFundMe and I’m sharing because people have asked how they can help them. We just lost most of our life in a fire too. Kindly F OFF. No one is forcing you to do anything.”
Despite the criticism, Moore’s focus remains on helping her community. The fires have left countless families devastated. Her updates and resource sharing aim to bring attention to the tragedy.
Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by these catastrophic fires.
