“Feeling helpless”
Sports star mourns after fire in Los Angeles
01/11/2025 – 10:14 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
In Los Angeles, over 12,000 houses burned due to the fire disaster. Now a sports star has also made an emotional statement.
The images circulating around the world of Los Angeles, one of the most dazzling cities in the United States, are devastating. Several fires have been raging since Tuesday. Ten people have died, more than 180,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and more than 12,000 homes have already been banned. Now a sports star has commented on the fire disaster.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the 50 best players in NBA history. The 77-year-old shared an emotional post with his followers on Instagram. He wrote: “What is happening in Los Angeles is so devastating. My thoughts are with all my friends and all the people in LA who have been affected by the fires and lost their homes. I just want to share my feelings of sadness at the devastation shared by the fires in the Los Angeles area.”
The former Los Angeles Lakers star then shared a personal story: “Thousands have lost their homes, including my childhood friend Billy Crystal and his wife Janice, who lost their 45-year-old home. Others lost their lives.” Billy Crystal is an American comedian and actor. He told media about the loss of his villa: “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cannot be taken away. Of course we are heartbroken, but with the love of our children and friends We’ll get through this.”
video | “Like a post-apocalyptic Hollywood film”
Former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar added: “We all feel helpless in the face of such destruction, but we are also grateful for those who are willing to face the flames for the good of their community.”
Under the post, author Bill Shapiro wrote: “And Kareem knows what loss by fire means.” Shapiro is referring to an incident that took place in 1983 in the then basketball star’s villa. This burned down to the ground. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once told the Washington Post: “I lost everything I owned. After the fire – I was on a road trip – I only had what I had in my suitcases. I always had me as not materialistic, and that was quite a test. I learned a lot about myself.”