To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Mel Gibson has shared a completely unfounded conspiracy theory that people were ‘commissioned’ to start the devastating wildfires ripping through LA.
At least 16 people have so far been killed in the fires and an estimated 10,000 buildings have been destroyed, including affluent suburbs, churches and Hollywood film locations after the original blaze began in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood.
Celebrities including Paris Hilton, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester have all had their homes destroyed in what has been called the most destructive fire in the city’s history.
Gibson, 69, whose $11,500,000 (£9.4m) Malibu home was also burned to the ground in the ‘apocalyptic’ fires, appeared on Fox News show The Ingraham Angle to peddle a conspiracy theory even he admitted was ‘insane.’
He made startling and baseless claims the fires were ignited on ‘purpose’ to resolve California’s ‘problems’, which he did not specify, and suggested officials wanted ‘an empty state.’
On The Ingraham Angle, Gibson told host Laura Ingraham: ”I know they were messing with the water, letting reserves go for one reason or another. They’ve been doing that a while. California has a lot of problems that sort of baffle the mind as far as why they do things.’
Mel Gibson said he had concocted ‘horrible’ theories about the LA fires (Picture: Fox News)
Gibson made unfounded claims on the TV channel (Picture: Fox News)
‘I know they were messing with the water, letting reserves go for one reason or another. They’ve been doing that a while. California has a lot of problems that sort of baffle the mind as far as why they do things.’
‘And then in events like this, you sort of look, well, it is on purpose? Which, it’s an insane thing to think. But one begins to ponder whether or not there is a purpose in mind. What could it be? You know, what do they want? The state empty? I don’t know.’
Gibson admitted he was concocting ‘horrible theories’ about the fires.
He continued: I can make all kinds of horrible theories up in my head, conspiracy theories and everything else, but it just seemed a little convenient that there was no water.
Gibson’s Malibu home was completely destroyed in the fires (Picture: Mega)
At least 16 people have died in the fires according to the latest figures (Picture: Backgrid)
‘And that the wind conditions were right and that there are people ready and willing and able to start fires. And are they commissioned to do so or acting on their own volition? I don’t know. But they seem pretty well equipped these people that they are catching.’
Gibson previously spoke about the destruction of his Malibu 6,578-square-foot family home, which he bought in 2008 from David Duchovny and Tea Leoni.
He was in Texas when the fires broke out, recording an episode for the Joe Rogan podcast.
‘It’s emotional. I had my stuff there. I’ve been relieved from the burden of my stuff because it’s all in cinders,’ he told NewsNation.
Gibson spoke to Ingraham on the right wing news station (Picture: Fox News)
He added that he was ‘ill at ease’ while chatting with Rogan after hearing the news that his neighbourhood was affected.
‘I thought, ‘Eh, I wonder if my place is still there. When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there,’ the actor said.
Meanwhile many Hollywood stars used their platforms to share links to evacuation resources and donation pages and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited a meal distribution site and were seen hugging people and speaking to emergency crews.
Oscar-nominated actress Sharon Stone encouraged stars to make donations to a distribution centre, which prompted Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry to pack up ‘my entire closet’ in order to ‘help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics.’
Fellow Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer and Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause commented on Berry’s post, with their plans to drop off items, while Jason Oppenheim of Selling Sunset offered free representation to help people find homes.
The fires have also thrown Hollywood’s awards season into disarray, and the Critics Choice Awards and the Oscar nominations are among the events being rescheduled.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.