Flavor Flav launches GoFundMe to help Black families affected by the LA wildfires
Public Enemy star and legendary hypeman Flavor Flav has begun work with GoFundMe to help Black families who have been affected by the wildfires that have been sweeping through neighbourhoods in Los Angeles County.
Since the fires began on January 7th, over 180,000 people have been forced to flee their Los Angeles homes and, to date, 27 people have been killed, and over 20 people have been reported missing.
On January 21st, the emcee and former Public Enemy member took to his social media accounts and revealed the official partnership. Flavor Flav shared that he was also uniting with the Black Music Action Coalition to collect donations, which are focusing solely on displaced black families in the Pasadena and Altadena neighbourhoods.
In a video, Flavor Flav told his followers, “This is Flavor Flav in the building. It’s been inspiring to me, seeing a lot of people coming together right now, lifting each other’s spirits.” He continued: “There’s not enough being done for the Black families and the communities. Come on, y’all. Let’s make LA strong, baby. Let’s help those in need.”
The video also contained a caption which reads: “Not enough is being done for the black families and community in the aftermath of the California fires. I’ve partnered up with GoFundMe and the Black Music Action Coalition to create ONE main GoFundMe campaign to immediately help those in need. I urge not only black artists and musicians and creators, but EVERYONE to come together and continue to help those in still in desperate need.”
Flavor Flav’s GoFundMe page has a goal of $100K and has over $44,862 donations. According to the caption shared on the GoFundMe page, the contributions will be dispersed across more than 700 Black families. In other LA fire news, Jheńe Aiko recently sponsored free massages for firefighters who have worked on the frontlines of the Los Angeles wildfires. Many different musicians have also reached out to affected communities.
Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD foundation has donated $2.5 million to help those affected. Paris Hilton also launched a fund for families displaced by the fires, pledging $100,000 and promised to match up to $100,000 in donations. Dave Grohl also spent his birthday making meals for affected families.
Mexican band Fuerza Regida decided to rent out a hotel for an entire week to house 50 families fleeing the wildfires. CharliXCX has called for brands offering her free clothes to “give [them] to people who really truly need it.” She has also shared details of a clothing drive organised by stylist Lana Jay Lackey, urging others to join her in donating.