Mandy Moore doesn’t hold back when it comes to defending her family. the this is us The star found herself in the middle of controversy after sharing a GoFundMe campaign for her in-laws, who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, and she had some choice words for her critics.
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The actress, who herself suffered extensive fire damage to her home, took to Instagram to share that her brother-in-law Griff and sister-in-law Kate lost their home in the Eaton fire. The situation is particularly difficult, as the couple is expecting their first child in a few weeks.
“With their first child due in a matter of weeks, they need our support now more than ever,” Moore wrote in her initial post. Griff, a touring musician, also lost “his entire arsenal of drums/percussions that he uses to make a living,” she explained.
But when some social media users suggested that Moore should shoulder the expenses herself, citing her supposed net worth from online sources, the actress wasn’t having it. In a fiery follow-up post dated January 10, 2025, she set the record straight.
“People ask if we’re helping our families or crediting them with some arbitrary amount of money that Google says someone isn’t helpful or sympathetic to,” Moore responded. “Of course we are. Our friend Matt started this GoFundMe and I’m sharing it because people have asked how they can help. We’ve lost most of our lives in a fire too. Please F OFF. No one is forcing you to do anything.”
Despite initial backlash, the response from Moore’s supporters was overwhelming. The campaign, which originally aimed to raise $60,000, has now raised more than $176,000 in donations. Moore later expressed her gratitude, writing: “I am blown away by the love and support of these two. Thank you thank you thank you. Incredibly kind people.”
The actress has publicly documented her harrowing experience with the fires. Earlier in the week, she shared poignant footage of her smoke-filled neighborhood in Altadena, revealing that her family and pets had to evacuate. “Honestly, I am in shock and feel numb to everyone who has lost so much, including my family,” she said. “My kids’ school is gone. Our favorite restaurants are flattened.”
The Los Angeles wildfires, which started on January 7, 2025, forced nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate and damaged more than 13,400 structures. The fires tragically claimed the lives of 11 people, including former child actor Rory Callum Sykes, who died at his Malibu home. Other celebrities affected include Paris Hilton, James Woods, Billy Crystal, Mark Hamill and more.
A charity concert called FireAid is scheduled to be held on January 30, 2025 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with proceeds going to support rebuilding efforts and displaced families.
