Empress Of, DIIV's Zachary Cole Smith, Fat Tony and more launch fundraisers after losing their homes in LA wildfires

10 January 2025, 12:38 | Written by Tyler Damara Kelly

(News)

(Empress Of) (DIIV)

Due to the devastation caused by the LA wildfires, many artists who have lost their homes have decided to start fundraisers to try and recover their losses.

Following a fire that broke out in the Palisades region of Los Angeles, many more wildfires followed, which devastated the local area. Thousands of people have lost their homes, including high-profile people such as Anthony Hopkins, Paris Hilton, James Woods, Tina Knowles, and Jhene Aiko.

Tim Darcy of Cola and Ought and rapper Fat Tony lost their Altadena homes, too, and each have created GoFundMe pages to try and get themselves back on their feet. "Anything I raise beyond my needs will be donated to Pasadena Humane Society," wrote Fat Tony at the end of his GoFundMe page.

editable/addable spreadsheet of music industry folks who have lost their homes to the fires, along with gofundme links and immediate requests where applicable. for sharing docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

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— speedy ortiz ÷ sad13 ÷ sadie dupuis ÷ haunted guy (@sad13.bsky.social) 9 January 2025 at 19:15

Fundraisers have also been started on behalf of DIIV's Zachary Cole Smith, and Empress Of. In an appeal to raise funds for the DIIV vocalist, Lindsay Hartman, who is organising theGoFundMe page wrote: "My two best best friends, Dani and Cole Smith, lost their house and all belongings in the Altadena fire this morning. This home was everything to them and their two year old baby, Roy. Dani is also 6 months pregnant, making this already horrifying event even more impossible to bear. This home included all of their possessions (clothing, heirlooms, prized possessions) as well as all of Cole’s musical gear, the family car, and all of their baby supplies for Roy and the newborn on the way."

"Some of you might know Lorely as Empress Of. She's a musician in our community here in LA. She is also a daughter and a sibling in a family that have now lost everything," shares a statement for Empress Of's GoFundMe page. "Lorely has given endlessly to the community through her kindness, music and art over the years, just as Reyna [her mother] has for hers."

The wildfires in LA continue to rage on. For live updates, visit bbc.co.uk.