“Appalling and Greedy”: Tyler Perry Rebukes Insurers Amid LA Tragedy
Filmmaker Tyler Perry isn’t holding back. The 55-year-old rebuked insurance companies for canceling policies in wildfire-prone areas just as devastating blazes ravage Los Angeles. His fiery words come as celebrities and everyday Californians grapple with unimaginable losses.
“Watching a daughter use a garden hose to try and protect her 90-year-old parents’ home because their insurance was canceled was just gut-wrenching to me,” Perry shared in a heartfelt Instagram post on Sunday. His words have struck a chord with fans and followers.
Tyler Perry Speaks Out
“Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?” he asked. “People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed.”
The Madea creator concluded his post with, “As I am in the process of trying to figure out what steps to take to do all I can to help as many as I can, I am keeping everyone in my prayers.”
Celebrities Feel the Heat
The wildfires tearing through Los Angeles have left devastation in their wake, and no one—not even the rich and famous—is immune. Mel Gibson, Candy Spelling, Miles Teller, Tina Knowles, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, and Paris Hilton are among the A-listers whose homes have been reduced to ashes. While their losses make headlines, Perry’s plea is a reminder that even the lives of ordinary people are being upended.
The numbers paint a grim picture. The LA County medical examiner confirmed 24 fatalities as of Sunday evening, with 16 lives lost in the Eaton Fire and eight in the Palisades Fire. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with damages estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion, according to AccuWeather.
A Crisis Made Worse by Policy Changes
Adding insult to injury, major insurance companies have been pulling out of high-risk areas long before the wildfires. State Farm General shocked policyholders in March 2024 when it announced it would not renew 30,000 homeowner and condominium policies, including 1,262 in Pacific Palisades—one of the hardest-hit areas.
Chubb Insurance stopped writing policies for high-value homes with higher wildfire risk back in 2021. Meanwhile, Trans Pacific Insurance Co., Tokio Marine America Insurance Co., and Allstate have also made policy changes, leaving thousands without coverage when they need it most.
JP Morgan analysts estimate insured losses could reach $20 billion, while uninsured losses are expected to soar past $100 billion. These staggering figures would make the LA wildfires the costliest in U.S. history, equivalent to nearly 4% of California’s annual GDP.
