As devastating wildfires continue to sweep through Los Angeles, Chrissy Teigen, known for her role on “Lip Sync Battle,” has ignited a different kind of controversy with her social media posts about evacuating her home.
Teigen, along with her husband John Legend, their four children, and their pets, was forced to leave their Los Angeles residence due to the ongoing wildfire emergency. Her updates on the situation have drawn mixed reactions from the online community.
The California wildfire crisis has wreaked havoc across the state. According to CAL FIRE, 92 active wildfires have scorched more than 29,053 acres, destroyed over 10,000 structures, and claimed five lives, with coroner verification still pending.
Emergency services have logged at least 13,926 responses, while damage assessments continue for affected areas such as the Palisades and Eaton Fires.
In the midst of these events, the 39-year-old model and author took to her Instagram Story on January 8 to share snapshots of her family’s experience during the evacuation.
Teigen posted several photos, including one showing her packing a suitcase. Alongside the image, she added a caption that read, “This feels surreal. I’m really scared right now. Packing.”
In another post, Teigen shared a photo of her pets, captioned, “4 dogs, 4 kids, and a bearded dragon walk into a hotel,” emphasizing the complexity of relocating her entire family.
While many followers sympathized with her predicament, others criticized her updates as inappropriate. One commenter remarked, “This is so tone-deaf. Classic Chrissy not reading the room.” Another wrote, “She’s ‘crying’ while John snaps photos for Instagram?” Some expressed their annoyance by stating, “Completely out of touch.”
Another critic expressed frustration over the disconnect between the gravity of the situation and the decision to pose for a photo, pointing out the stark contrast of a prominent diamond ring visible in the image.
However, not everyone shared this view. Some came to Teigen’s defense, with one supporter writing, “Mother Nature always wins. Sure, she’s wealthy, but she’s grieving the memories tied to her home. Some people cry over less because it holds sentimental value. Stop mocking her. I don’t care about her career, but let’s be human.”
Others echoed this sentiment, questioning the insensitivity of those laughing at her loss and wondering how anyone could overlook the emotional impact of losing a home and the memories attached to it.
A commenter criticized the ridicule, stressing the importance of compassion and humanity in the face of such profound loss.
Despite the mixed reactions, Chrissy Teigen’s posts conveyed her relief that her family managed to evacuate safely.
Their Beverly Hills home, showcased in Architectural Digest in August 2023, highlighted spaces like the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and a private movie theater.
In the AD feature, Teigen and Legend discussed their passion for interior design. “Each house we’ve owned reflects a different stage of our lives, like chapters in a story,” Teigen remarked.
Reimagined by AD100 designer Jake Arnold, the home was described by Legend as a space of “lightness and openness.” He reflected on their previous home, saying, “It was darker, more enclosed—almost like a retreat.”
Legend also praised Arnold’s work, adding, “This house feels so connected to nature. It’s open, airy, and magical—just what we envisioned for the kids.”
The home seamlessly blends sophisticated design with playful elements. Standout features include the open kitchen, showcasing calacatta macchia vecchia marble countertops and custom-made stools, as well as the lounge area, highlighted by a tiered opera fantastico marble and brass bar, set against striking de Gournay wallpaper.
Luna’s bedroom, featured in Architectural Digest, embraces a whimsical fantasy theme, complete with a ball pit that adds a fun and imaginative flair.
Miles’s room, on the other hand, exudes adventure, featuring a climbing wall and a custom car-shaped bed that perfectly captures a rugged and playful atmosphere.
The home theater, designed for cozy family evenings, includes custom lounge seating covered in soft sheepskin fabric, creating an inviting and comfortable environment.
The couple’s primary bedroom saw several transformations during the redesign. It evolved from a bright and airy space into a more intimate, moody sanctuary, featuring deep plaster walls and a walnut-framed seagrass headboard.
As part of the renovation, the floor plan was restructured to enhance functionality and shared spaces. “We’re not the type of Victorian couple who dresses separately and shows up ready,” Teigen joked, reflecting their modern approach to design.
The Architectural Digest feature highlighted the family’s deep emotional bond with their home, which now faces an uncertain fate in the wake of the devastating wildfires.
Chrissy Teigen is among many Hollywood celebrities forced to evacuate as the fires ravaged countless properties across the region.
Actor Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, also lost their longtime Pacific Palisades residence to the wildfires on January 8. The couple had called the house home for 46 years, raising their children and welcoming grandchildren there.
Speaking to People, the 76-year-old comedian shared the profound grief his family is experiencing. “The scale of this devastation is beyond words. Our hearts break for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and livelihoods in this unimaginable tragedy,” he said.
