Eva Longoria: LA is a working class city, it is not just celebrity homes burning

Eva Longoria said there needs to be “more humanity and grace” over those suffering the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires, suggesting there has been a focus on the “rich celebrities” whose homes have been lost.

Desperate Housewives star Longoria and her foundation pledged one million dollars (£819,000) to support the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) and the California Community Foundation’s wildlife recovery fund on Monday.

The donation came from a part of the 50 million dollar (£41 million) Courage and Civility Award she received from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in March.

Co-hosting Jenna And Friends on the Today Show, Longoria said there has been a “beautiful coming together of everybody” in the wake of the fires, which she is proud to see “of a city that I’ve called home for 25 years”.

“Everybody is helping, everybody is donating, everybody is out in the streets – where the fires are still going, there are people with water hoses,” she said.

However, the 49-year-old actress described it as “irritating” that the rhetoric has been around “rich celebrities homes are burning”.

Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg were among the Hollywood stars who have lost their homes.

“Los Angeles is a working class city, it’s union town, a lot of union members,” Longoria said.

“We keep talking about Pacific Palisades fire (but) the Altadena (and) Pasadena fires (there) is a huge community of colour.

“We have to have more humanity and grace. Anybody in the media and anybody out there, they need to be careful with their words, because we need to make sure we’re talking about everybody suffering right now.”

She said despite talking about first responders and firefighters, there will be second responders “who are going to rebuild these communities”.

“Once we get a hold of these fires, once we put out these fires, what comes next?

“Where do these kids go to school? How do parents go back to work if their kid isn’t in school? Insurance – there’s so much to work through,” she added.

On Wednesday, Longoria will volunteer with Global Empowerment Mission and visit World Central Kitchen’s Eaton Fire operations.

Others who have donated funds include the Screen Actors Guild, the Recording Academy and MusiCares, and Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis – who have all pledged one million dollars (£819,000) each to those affected by the wildfires.

Beyonce also confirmed her BeyGood foundation has donated 2.5 million US dollars (£2.05 million) to the relief efforts so far, after postponing an announcement which fans speculate will be a tour or a new album.

Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation is also stepping up, offering a 500,000 dollar (£410,000) donation to relief efforts as “the disaster upends families and dismantles livelihoods”, the rock band said on Instagram.

While Hilton confirmed she has raised 800,000 dollars (£656,000) in 72 hours for the displaced families of LA through her charity 11:11 Media Impact, as she pushed to reach the one million dollar mark on social media.

She also donated 150,000 dollars (£123,000) to GoFundMe’s Wildfire Relief Fund – the largest donation to date, the organisation confirmed to the PA news agency.

“After meeting with people impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, I heard heartbreaking stories of loss but also inspiring resilience,” Hilton said in a statement.

“My goal is to help as many as I can as quickly as possible, which is why I’m making a 150,000 dollar (£123,000) grant to the GoFundMe Wildfire Relief Fund, providing direct cash assistance.

“Hundreds of families will receive this assistance immediately ensuring they can address their needs and begin to rebuild their lives today.”

Similarly, Hilton fostered a three-year-old chihuahua “whose family unfortunately had to surrender her after their home was destroyed in the wildfires”, she said on Instagram.

It comes after the reality star and socialite watched her Malibu home “burn to the ground on live TV”.

The wildfire destruction has halted many events, with speculation growing that the Critics Choice Awards are set to be postponed for a second time – while there was also suggestion that the Oscars ceremony may be impacted.

The Oscars nominations have already been delayed for a second time, with a new date of January 23 confirmed.

Meanwhile, the screening of a new Netflix series starring the Duchess of Sussex, which sees her inviting friends and famous guests to a California estate, was also postponed amid the fires.

The blazes have killed at least 24 people, including British-born former child star Rory Sykes, who was blind and had cerebral palsy.

His mother, Shelley Sykes, told Australian TV channel Network 10 he “died needlessly” of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Officials have warned winds scattering ash could threaten the progress made so far on the infernos that have sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes and destroyed many properties.