Mandy Moore, whose residence was ravaged by the relentless Los Angeles wildfires, issued a poignant plea to detractors, urging them to "kindly step aside" after launching a GoFundMe appeal to assist her kin who were victims of the blaze. The 40-year-old actress from the hit TV show "This Is Us" had earlier shared that her Altadena home had "miraculously" escaped the flames on January 9th, although her family's garage, music studio, and rear house were reduced to rubble.
In the subsequent days, Moore posted a GoFundMe link on her Instagram for her brother-in-law Griff and sister-in-law Kit, who "lost their home and all possessions in the Eaton Fire." "As they await the arrival of their firstborn in mere weeks, their need for our support has never been greater," Moore emotionally wrote in the caption. "Griff, a touring musician, also lost his entire livelihood – his collection of drums and percussion. The devastation is overwhelming. Many have inquired about how to assist during this unthinkable and trying time… Please consider contributing and sharing to aid in their rebuilding efforts."
Moore then appended a message addressed to those questioning her decision to publicize the fundraising campaign. "For those questioning whether we are aiding our own family or assigning some arbitrary figure based on Google's estimate of donations – this is neither helpful nor compassionate," she stressed about her personal finances. "Of course, we are supporting them."
"Our friend Matt initiated this GoFundMe, and I'm sharing it because people have asked how they can help," Moore continued. "We too lost most of our belongings in the fire." She concluded her message to critics with a stark directive: "Kindly step aside. No one is compelling you to do anything."
The GoFundMe campaign has surpassed $200,000 in donations, and the organizer has ceased further contributions as of January 12th. "In the past 24 hours, we've raised more than anyone could have envisioned. The generosity of this community has left us utterly amazed; I'm lost for words," an update on the page revealed.
Moore's message to detractors came shortly after she disclosed the extent of her home's damage in an Instagram post, noting that she, her husband Taylor Goldsmith, and their three children still had the "core of our home." The couple share August "Gus" Harrison, 3, Oscar "Ozzie" Bennett, 2, and 3-month-old Louise Everett.
"We managed to walk up our street and witness the widespread devastation. Amazingly, the core of our house stands. For now," Moore wrote on social media. "It's uninhabitable but mostly intact. We lost Taylor and Griffin's studio, along with every instrument and piece of equipment they ever owned. Our garage and rear house are gone."
"Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in-laws, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, six weeks away from welcoming their first baby, our best friends… We're grappling with survivor's guilt. We cherish this community and will do everything within our power to rebuild and support. Thank you all for checking on us and offering assistance. Altadena strong," she added.
