Some of Los Angeles’ richest and most prominent celebrities—like Khloe Kardashian—are coming for Mayor Karen Bass over the city’s response to the wildfires that have left thousands displaced.
Kardashian called Bass “a joke” after people were forced to be evacuated after the fires broke out on Jan. 7. While criticism of the mayor has come from people of all races, two Black actresses are coming to the mayor’s defense claiming the criticism is not only ugly but racist.
Actresses Yvette Nicole Brown and Kym Whitley told TMZ that they stand behind Bass amid the wildfire crisis and understand how the disparagement against her is race-related.
“[Bass has] also been a Black woman in America for a long time, so none of this is new to her. We are mad, because we’re tired of it,” Brown told the outlet.
“I’ve never seen everybody react like this to the mayor and blame one person for a natural disaster. I’ve never seen it. Now what’s different this time? Interesting isn’t it?”
Whitley also insisted that Bass shouldn’t be under attack.
“This is not the time [to blame]. I need everybody to remain calm, be vigilant, support the leadership,” she stated.
“Support Karen Bass. That’s all I can say...y’all have got me upset. She has done what she’s had to do. She’s jumped in there.”
Initially, folks called out Bass for not being present when the fires first began, as she traveled to Ghana for the inauguration of that country’s latest president and did not come back to Los Angeles until last Wednesday (Jan. 8).
Bass left Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson as mayor pro tempore in her absence.
Then, the limited availability of firefighters and lack of water led folks to speculate that she also cut the fire department’s budget in order to pay for an expensive new contract with the LAPD.
Is racism to blame to the heat Bass has received? Yes, there has been criticism from Black liberal activists who have stated that she prioritized the Los Angeles Police Department over the fire department in the city’s budget.
Also, Black victims of the disaster have also expressed disappointment over the devastation they’ve experienced.
However, non-Black folks seem to be Bass’ most vocal detractors. White conservatives like Elon Musk and Matt Walsh somehow made this is a conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion.
Meanwhile, former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and actress Sarah Michelle Gellar have loudly condemned how Bass has handled things.